There are two groups of people described in the text that we're studying today.
Really, the two groups are different in many ways, actually.
Culturally, ethnically, religiously.
Those differences, though, ultimately, as you know, are relatively unimportant.
They don't really matter in the long run.
The crucial way that the two groups presented here in these verses are different
actually flows from an experience that they share.
Both groups have had the immense privilege of receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ,
which, in the context of this passage, is referred to as the Word of God.
And still, they differ in how they respond to receiving that Word.
One group accepts and welcomes what they receive by faith.
The other rejects it.
And the group that accepts the gospel does so, according to the text,
because the Holy Spirit opens their eyes to recognize the preaching of Christ as the Word of God.
And they're so convinced that they are prepared to suffer and to die for that truth,
knowing that death is but a doorway to life in Jesus Christ.
The other group hears the same gospel,
but in the hardness of their hearts,
rejects it as being merely the words of men.
This group ultimately hates what the other calls truth.
And while the one is prepared to die for it,
this group is ready to destroy on account of it.
They're blind to the truth,
lost in sin and unbelief,
and destined for God's eternal wrath.
And we all this morning share in the same exact privilege as they did.
This gospel message, the Word of God,
it is readily available to us.
We will experience the preaching of it again
in these very moments moving forward in our service.
And what we find over and over in the Scriptures
is that taking a neutral or somewhat neutral position
on this truth is not actually an option that's on the table for us.
You will either accept it as the Word of God,
or you will reject it as the words of men.
And the overarching question that I want to pose
to all of us this morning is this.
To which of these groups do you truly belong?
Which one?
The one who receives the Word and accepts it
as the Word of God,
or receives it and rejects it as merely the words of men?
Let's read the text together.
Chapter 2, verses 13 to 16.
Paul writes,
We also thank God constantly for this,
that when you received the Word of God,
which you heard from us,
you accepted it not as the Word of men,
but as what it really is,
the Word of God,
which is at work in you believers.
For you, brothers, became imitators
of the churches of God and Christ Jesus that are in Judea.
For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen
as they did from the Jews,
who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets,
drove us out,
and displeased God,
and opposed all mankind
by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles
that they might be saved.
So as always to fill up the measure of their sins,
but wrath has come upon them at last.
We've now come full circle
in the movement of thought
through the first two chapters of 1 Thessalonians.
Paul, Silas, and Timothy
began their correspondence,
as you will recall,
by giving thanks to God
for the Thessalonian believers'
spirit-empowered conversion
and spirit-enabled perseverance of faith.
And then as Paul reflected on his time in Thessalonica,
he briefly shifts the focus away
from the Thessalonians themselves
and turns it to the authentic nature
of his ministry to them,
distinguishing himself
from the false teachers of the day.
And here, as we get closer
to the end of chapter 2,
Paul returns now to that initial theme,
that initial theme of the Thessalonians' conversion
and perseverance of faith
through severe persecution.
And as you notice in verse 13,
once again,
his remembrance of the gospel's work
in the lives of these people
that he has come to love
is expressed primarily as thanksgiving,
not thanksgiving to the Thessalonians,
thanksgiving to God
for the work that he has done in them
and that he continues to do through them.
The opening thanksgiving of chapter 1
underscores the powerful work
of the Holy Spirit in these new believers.
But as Paul reflects on the same event
in these verses,
he's not changing the topic,
he's still reflecting on his initial time
in ministry in Thessalonica
and the work that God was doing there
and the results of the fruitfulness of that work.
Here, as he rehearses that once again,
he highlights especially
the Spirit's work
through the ministry of the Word of God,
the preaching of the gospel of Jesus
from the Scriptures.
And an important statement
at the end of verse 13
is what gives us the passage's central idea
that the Word of God
is at work.
The Word of God is at work.
You see it there in verse 13.
He says,
you accepted it for what it really is,
the Word of God,
which is at work.
And he continues by saying,
it is at work explicitly
in believers.
And then as we look at this
set of verses as a unit,
we find also that implicit in the text
is that the Word is at work
against unbelievers.
And it's these two categories
that are going to shape
our study this morning
and next week.
We won't really move beyond
the first category this morning.
And so we'll return to it next week.
So what I want to focus on now
is the work of the Word
in believers.
The work of the Word
in believers.
In this text,
especially verses 13 and 14,
the Word of God accomplishes
two distinct works
in believers.
It brings about their salvation
and it secures them
in that salvation.
In other words,
the Spirit of God
uses the Word of God
to effect one's conversion
to Christ
and subsequent perseverance
through suffering.
The Word of God,
we would understand,
also works
in the believer's sanctification,
but Paul doesn't address that
at least at this point.
Only these first two are noted
and so those are the two
that I want to meditate on now.
What is the work
of the Word
in believers
according to this text?
Well, first we find
that the Word works
to save sinners.
The Word works
to save sinners.
Look at verse 13.
We also thank God
constantly for this,
that when you receive
the Word of God,
which you heard from us,
you accepted it
not as the Word of men
because you heard it from men,
but as what it really is,
the Word of God.
We're just in passing.
Notice the magnitude
of this statement.
This is Paul's claim
to inspiration.
There is this common misunderstanding.
I'm not sure exactly
where this comes from,
but even among some Christians,
they make this assumption
that as these men
who God used
to write the Scriptures,
that they didn't understand
what it was
that they were doing.
That as they wrote
and as they preached,
they didn't understand
that what they were writing
was the Word of God.
And that just isn't true.
Over and over,
through the New Testament especially,
we find that the apostles
are very much aware
of the divine authority
they have been given
in their preaching
and subsequently
in their writing.
And Paul here reminds us
of that again,
that as he comes
to Thessalonica
and he's preaching
the Gospel,
he recognizes
that what he is doing
is giving
the divine Word of God.
And we continue on
through the New Testament,
Peter recognizes,
he calls all of Paul's writings
Scripture.
The apostles were
very much aware of that.
And we find here
this bold claim once again
that what Paul
has been preaching
in Thessalonica
and in other places
and then subsequently
in his writing,
he understood to be
the very Word of God,
the authoritative Word of God.
And that's just in passing.
He says,
you accepted it
not as the Word of men
but as what it really is,
the Word of God
which is at work
in you believers.
Now, two words
are necessarily
contrasting one another
in this verse.
Received
and accepted.
Received here,
in this case,
it refers to
just the basic
transfer of information.
It's simply stating
that what was
previously unknown
to the Thessalonians
became known
to them.
They have received
that information
and Paul was the one
who passed it on.
So, Paul was a conduit
then, right?
He was a conduit
by which the gospel message
was passed on
to the people
in Thessalonica.
That's what he means
when he says
you receive the Word.
The Word itself,
it's not really referring
to anything
that the recipient
does with it.
It's just the fact
that they heard the Word.
This information
was passed on to them.
That is necessarily
contrasting
this second word,
accepted.
Accepted,
interestingly enough,
is the same word
that's used
in chapter 1
in verse 6.
Just set your eyes
on it.
In chapter 1
in verse 6,
Paul says,
you became imitators
of us
and of the Lord
for you received
the Word.
Now, received there,
the Greek word behind it,
it's the same word
as accepted
in chapter 2
in verse 13.
So, in translating it,
there's two different
Greek words here.
So, to give the idea,
to set the contrast
of what Paul is saying,
the translators
use receive
for this first word
that Paul came
and he gave information
and they received
the information.
Okay?
And then he uses
this second word
that he uses
in chapter 1
that this particular group
upon receiving
that information
accepted it.
They welcomed it.
They believed
what they received.
So, though the Word
of God came to them
through the words
of men,
the Christians
in Thessalonica
did not accept it
as ultimately
man's words
but as what it really is.
The inspired,
authoritative,
inerrant
Word
of God.
And what is it
exactly
that Paul,
Silas,
and Timothy
came to Thessalonica
proclaiming
as the
inspired,
authoritative,
and inerrant
Word of God?
It was the Gospel
of Jesus
from
the Old Testament
Scriptures.
You remember
Acts 17
it tells us plainly
Paul reasoned
with them
from the Scriptures
explaining
and proving
that it was
necessary
for the Christ
to suffer
and to rise
from the dead
and saying
to them
this Jesus
whom I proclaim
to you
is that Christ
who according
to the Scriptures
had to suffer
and rise
from the dead
for our sins.
That's what
he came to
Thessalonica
proclaiming.
He was preaching
Christ.
He was preaching
Christ from the Scriptures
and so when he says
here that
what you received
as the Word of God
that's what he means.
You received
the Gospel
preaching
of Christ
from the Scriptures.
It's the Word of God
he says
and you received
it as such.
They came
proclaiming
the good news
of what God
has done
to save sinners
through the
sacrificial death
and resurrection
of Jesus Christ
his Son.
Paul explained
to them
from the Scriptures
how it was necessary
for man's
eternal salvation
that God's Messiah
suffer in our place
as a substitute.
How it was necessary
that after his suffering
that he rise
from the dead
thereafter
and then he told them
about Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth
as we'll celebrate
all month
the sinless Son of God
incarnate
in flesh
who did
precisely
what the Scripture
said was necessary.
He proclaimed
Christ to them
as the good news
for sinners
and then he urged them
to respond
to the good news
turning from sin
turning from their unbelief
in order to
trust in Christ
by faith.
Jesus
this is God's
very word.
It was his word
for the Thessalonians
it's his word
for you.
In his love
God sent his only
son to atone
for the sins
of all who will
believe in him.
Jesus perfectly
fulfilled the law
that we have broken
and by shedding
his precious blood
on Calvary's cross
he made a full
and complete
atonement
for all
who will
accept it
by faith
and then God
raised him
from the dead
as a sign
that Jesus'
sacrifice
as a perfect
lamb
as we read
in 1 Peter
chapter 1
that this sacrifice
was sufficient
that it worked
that it's enough
to cover our sins
we need
to add nothing
to it
his sacrifice
is enough
his atonement
is complete
it is full
and God
in the resurrection
says
I accept it
I accept this
as an atonement
for you
appeasing God's wrath
against us
and then in his love
God turns
to sinners
and he calls us
to receive it
he says
this is what
I have done
now receive it
by faith
accept it
by faith
this is the word
of God
and while some
of the Thessalonians
received this message
from men
they accepted it
by faith
as a message
from God
and according
to the text
they did so
because the word
was at work
in them
that's why
Paul offers
his thanksgiving
to God
for the Thessalonians
faith
he knew
that ultimately
God was
responsible
by his grace
for their conversion
because it is
the Holy Spirit
of God
that works
through the preaching
of the word
to save sinners
what does the word
do in its work
it saves
sinners
can I just show
you two passages
to help
unpack this
a little bit
further
first is
1 Corinthians
chapter 1
verses 22
to 24
for Jews
demand signs
and Greeks
seek wisdom
but we preach
Christ crucified
a stumbling block
to the Jews
and folly
to Gentiles
but to those
who are called
whether they be
Jew or Greek
it is Christ
the power of God
and the wisdom
of God
just meditate
on that verse
for a moment
Paul says
there's three groups
of people here
he says first
there's the Jews
and what the Jews
demand
in their religious
pursuit
is they demand
signs
show us something
prove to us
that what this is
is true
the Greeks
take a different
approach
what they're seeking
for
what they're looking
for is
some kind
of wisdom
some type
of philosophical
intellectual
wisdom
that will
satisfy
their
searching
minds
but then as
Paul continues
on he says
that what
they actually
receive
is those
who are
demanding
the signs
we preach
Christ
and to the Jews
demanding signs
it actually
becomes a
stumbling block
they stumble
over it
they don't
receive it
they stumble
over it
they hate
it
and then he says
then there's
the other group
the Greeks
the Gentiles
they're seeking
wisdom
they're looking
for this
kind of
philosophical
thing
to scratch
their itch
and the
preaching
of Christ
to them
it just
seems like
folly
he says
so there's
these two
groups
we come
and we
preach
Christ
and there's
the one
group
that's
demanding
a sign
and this
is just
a stumbling
block
to them
and then
there's
this other
group
here
they're
looking
for some
type
of intellectual
itch
to be
scratched
he says
this just
seems like
foolishness
to them
oh but
then he says
there's a
third group
there's a
third group
that upon
hearing the
preaching
of Christ
crucified
it becomes
to them
Christ
as the
power of
God
and the
wisdom
of God
and who
is it
that it
becomes
that to
he says
to those
who are
called
to those
who upon
hearing
the preaching
of the
gospel
hearing
the gospel
preached
through the
word
that the
spirit
of God
does a
unique
work
through
that
word
that opens
their hearts
in order
that the
result is
that they
will
believe
they see
it
they see
the wisdom
of God
the power
of God
in Christ
no longer
is it
foolishness
to them
it's not
a stumbling
block
to them
no to
them
it is
eternal
salvation
he says
oh by
God's
grace
that upon
hearing
the message
of Christ
crucified
you would
be called
by the
Holy Spirit
of God
resulting
in your
conversion
even this
morning
what do we
learn from
this
that the
word works
to save
sinners
it works
to save
sinners
I want to
show you
one other
text
2nd
Corinthians
chapter 2
verses 4
through 6
Paul is
addressing
or he's
he's speaking
about
unbelievers
those who
do not
accept
the gospel
at least
here in
the beginning
and he
says in
their case
the God
of this
world
Satan
has blinded
the minds
of the
unbelievers
and what
is the
purpose
of this
blinding
to keep
them from
seeing the
light of
the gospel
the glory
of Christ
so that
they will
not see
it
so it
will
continue
to be
a stumbling
block
and folly
so they
will not
see the
gospel
of the
glory
of Christ
who is
the image
of God
and then
he says
for what
we proclaim
is not
ourselves
we preach
Christ
as Lord
with
ourselves
as your
servants
for his
sake
and then
notice
this last
phrase
for God
who said
let light
shine out
of darkness
the one
who is
powerful
enough
to create
all
that you
see
he has
shown
in our
hearts
to do
what
to give
the light
of the
knowledge
of God
of the
glory
of God
in the
face
of Jesus
Christ
you know
what is
Paul saying
he's saying
unbelievers
are blinded
by Satan's
deception
keeping them
from seeing
the light
of the gospel
so how
then will
anyone
be saved
how will
anyone
move
from this
first category
of deception
and blindness
to this
latter category
of seeing
the truth
and understanding
the truth
and believing
the truth
and rejoicing
the truth
how is it
possible
that any
of us
would ever
move
from category
A
to category
B
and Paul
says
well
it starts
with the
preaching
of Christ
and then
God
does this
amazing
thing
in the
preaching
of Christ
through the
preaching
of the
gospel
God
who made
the world
and all
that's
in it
he shines
in the
darkness
of our
unbelieving
hearts
so that
we might
come to
the knowledge
of God
in Christ
Jesus
what is he
saying
the word
of God
works
to save
sinners
God uses
it
it's his
tool
it's his
instrument
to save
sinners
to shine
the light
of the
gospel
into the
darkness
of our
unbelieving
hearts
John
Piper
says
we
we live
in a
day
when people
believe
that there
are many
many words
of men
conservative
words
progressive
words
philosophical
words
Hindu
words
Protestant
words
we could
go on
and on
Catholic
words
Baptist
words
there are
all kinds
of words
and he
says
the
understanding
is that
all there
is
words
of men
and the
philosophy
of the
day
is basically
choose
your word
just choose
your word
and do
your best
and then he
says and
that's the
way it's
going to
be
until this
miracle
happens
until this
miracle
happens
the light
of the
glory of
God
shining in
the darkness
of our
depraved
hearts
through the
preaching of
the gospel
of God
in the face
of Jesus
Christ
when the
gospel came
to Thessalonica
the spirit
of God
was at
work
so that
some of
them
accepted
it as
the word
of God
and the
question
for you
is
have you
accepted
what you've
received
have you
accepted
the word
of God
have you
turned
from sin
to believe
the good
news
of Jesus
Christ
oh
sinner
this
gospel
it truly
is the
word
of God
don't
let another
day go
by
in your
sin
and your
unbelief
don't
let another
moment
go
without
turning
from your
sin
looking
to the
Savior
Jesus
who has
come to
save you
from your
sins
but then
there are
those of
us who
have
accepted
this
word
and what
does
this
mean
for
us
you
know
better
than
anyone
else
that
it
is
the
word
of
God
that
works
to
save
sinners
you
know
it
and we
have a
mandate
from
Christ
to
proclaim
this
good
news
of
salvation
for
the
lost
and
to
the
lost
and
why
wouldn't
we
do
that
we
understand
this
some
of you
lived
for
years
and
years
and
years
in
rebellion
against
God
you
knew
the
truth
you
heard
the
gospel
and
for
years
and
years
and
years
you
rejected
it
and
then
you
heard
it
again
and
God
unlocks
something
in you
and he
saves
your soul
and then
he commands
that you
go
and teach
that same
thing to
others
why
wouldn't
we do
that
if
it
is
the
preaching
of
the
gospel
that
God
uses
to
save
sinners
why
wouldn't
we
spend
our
lives
doing
everything
we
possibly
can
to
proclaim
the
glorious
good
news
of
Jesus
to
as
many
people
possible
as
we
can
people
don't
come
to
Christ
by
epiphany
they
don't
come
to
Christ
simply
because
in
their
rationality
in
their
minds
they
just
suddenly
put
these
pieces
!
together
it
doesn't
work
like
that
no
they
need
the
preaching
of
the
gospel
because
God
works
through
the
preaching
of
the
gospel
he
works
through
the
word
to
save
sinners
and
it's
our
responsibility
Christians
to
take
this
word
to
take
this
gospel
and
proclaim
it
so
that
God
will
save
sinners
the
word
works
to
save
the
lost
so
we
must
go
and
proclaim
the
word
to
the
nation
enough
of
the
casual
Christianity
enough
of
the
I'll
do
my
thing
and
I'll
go
to
church
on
Sunday
and
that's
it
no
we
must
move
beyond
this
place
and
we
must
proclaim
it
because
we
know
it
by
experience
that
if
sinners
are
to
be
saved
it
will
come
through
the
preaching
of
the
gospel
and
we
leave
that
to
the
Lord
what
else
does
the
!
do
in
the
believer
it
strengthen
the
saint
it
works
to
strengthen
the
saint
verse
14
for
you
brothers
became
imitators
of the
churches
of
God
in
Christ
Jesus
that
are
in
Judea
for
you
suffered
the
same
things
from
your
own
countrymen
as
they
did
from
the
Jews
we
understand
that
wherever
the
gospel
is
received
and
accepted
there
is
always
some
measure
of
suffering
on
the
part
of
those
who
believe
it's
always
been
the
case
it
will
always
be
the
case
and
we
know
that
because
that's
what
Jesus
told
us
would
happen
and
in
the
case
of
the
Thessalonians
that
suffering
was
actually
quite
intense
they
suffered
at
the
hands
of
the
Jews
in
Thessalonica
the
same
way
that
the
Christians
in
Judea
had
suffered
at
that
in
Acts
chapter
17
maybe
you
just
want
to
turn
there
quickly
Acts
17
and
you'll
see
it
firsthand
this
is
the
record
of
Luke's
record
of
Paul's
ministry
initial
ministry
there
in
Thessalonica
it's
truncated
for sure
but he
gives us
enough
so that
we get
the gist
of what
was
happening
Acts
17
verses
5
through
8
this
is
after
Paul
has
preached
in
the
synagogues
and
he's
proclaimed
Christ
from
the
scriptures
and
the
verse
before
tells
us
that
many
of
them
came
to
faith
and
then
that's
where
we
pick
up
in
verse
number
five
but
the
Jews
there
were
jealous
and
they
acted
upon
that
jealousy
by
taking
some
wicked
men
of
the
rabble
they
formed
a
mob
they
set
the
city
in
an
uproar
they
attacked
the
house
of
Jason
seeking
to
bring
them
out
to
the
crowd
apparently
Jason
was
a
new
believer
who
was
hosting
the
church
maybe
it's
gatherings
perhaps
is
why
they
targeted
him
in
particular
and
when
they
could
not
find
them
they
dragged
Jason
and
some
of
the
brothers
before
the
city
authorities
and
they
were
shouting
this
these
men
who
have
turned
the
world
upside
down
have
come
here
also
and
Jason
has
received
them
and
they
are
all
!
acting
out
against
the
decrees
of
Caesar
saying
that
there
is
another
king
Jesus
now
if
you've
done
any
study
at
all
of
your
new
testament
or
even
of
history
first
century
history
you
know
that
the
Jews
were
not
in
favor
of
Caesar
they
did
not
follow
Caesar
they
hated
Caesar
they
hated
the
Roman
rule
they
were
not
into
that
even
these
Hellenist
Jews
in
Thessalonica
would
not
have
been
friendly
to
that
what
they're
saying
about
Paul
and
Silas
and
Timothy
is
what
they
know
will
get
the
people
excited
to
do
something
against
them
they're
lying
about
this
they're
twisting
the
truth
of
the
preaching
of
the
gospel
in
order
to
incite
a
riot
and
the
people
in
the
city
authorities
were
disturbed
when
they
heard
these
things
so
what
the
Jews
determined
to
do
it
worked
it
worked
now
just
set
your
eyes
down
on
verse
13
now
Paul
and
Silas
and
Timothy
move
on
from
there
they
go
to
Berea
now
look
what
verse
13
says
when
the
Jews
from
Thessalonica
learned
that
the
word
of
God
was
proclaimed
by
Paul
at
Berea
also
they
came
there
too
doing
the
same
thing
agitating
and
stirring
up
the
crowds
now
I
read
those
verses
for
you
so
you
can
understand
the
immediate
context
in
which
the
Thessalonian
Christians
lived
it's
an
uproar
in
the
city
against
them
because
of
the
jealousy
in
this
moment
especially
from
the
Jews
who
didn't
appreciate
those
who
were
being
converted
to
Christianity
and
they're
so
agitated
by it
that
they're
not
just
content
to
cause
a
ruckus
in
Thessalonica
they
follow
Paul
to
Berea
and
they
do
the
same
thing
there
and
then
they
go
back
home
and
who's
there
when
they
go
back
home
all
these
Christians
who
had
trusted
Christ
and
had
become
Christians
when
Paul
was
there
except
now
their
teacher
is
gone
the
one
that
they
were
learning
from
and
leaning
on
he's
not
there
anymore
now
and
now
they're
left
there
as
a
church
to
live
amongst
these
who
are
persecuting
them
for the
!
the
gospel
and
yet
they
that's
kind of
the
amazing
part
isn't
it
Jesus
said
he
gave
a
parable
one
time
of
the
soils
and
he
said
that
there
would
be
some
people
who
would
hear
the
gospel
and
it
would
seem
like
they
accepted
on
the
front
end
they
kind
of
get
excited
they
are
joyed
at
the
prospect
of
the
gospel
but
then
over
time
they
face
persecution
and
in
the
illustration
he
says
the
sun
comes
out
and
it
gets
real
hot
and
they
are
not
really
rooted
in
the
gospel
and
so
they
burn
up
they
fade
away
they
wither
away
and
he
says
they
yeah
they
were
excited
about
the
prospect
of
the
gospel
but
they
never
really
accepted
it
truly
he
said
but
there
are
those
who
truly
accept
it
and
that
doesn't
happen
the
sun
comes
out
and
it
gets
real
hot
and
they
remain
they
remain
that's
what
the
Christians
in
Thessalonica
were
like
things
got
real
hard
and
yet
they
didn't
waver
why
because
they
believed
the
gospel
was
the
word
of
God
that
it
was
absolute
truth
that
it
was
worth
dying
for
which
is
what
they
were
ready
to
do
and
it's
in
this
way
that
they
became
imitators
of
the
churches
in
Judea
who
had
done
the
same
thing
and
as
we
saw
stated
in
chapter
1
and
verse
6
they
became
imitators
in
this
way
not
only
of
Paul
but
of
the
Lord
Jesus
himself
amazing
is it
because
they're
just
stubborn
I
don't
think
so
that's
not
what
the
text
says
the
text
explanation
for
this
perseverance
of
faith
is
that
in
addition
to
the
word
of
God
working
to
save
sinners
it
works
to
strengthen
the
saint
it's
amazing
isn't
just
the
flow
of
Paul's
argument
is
very
clear
he
knows
the
word
of
God
is
at
work
in
the
Thessalonians
because
they
continued
steadfastly
!
in
the
faith
despite
the
suffering
that
they
experienced
for the
name
of
Christ
that's
the
very
proof
of
the
gospel
being
at
work
within
them
that's
what
he
says
even
the
transitional
words
if
you
want
to
break
it
up
grammatically
that's
his
argument
the
word
is
at
work
in
you
and
we
know
this
for
you
suffered
and
you
stayed
faithful
this
kind
of
perseverance
it
only
comes
about
in
those
who
have
truly
been
born
again
of
God
by
the
word
of
God
because
once
God
opens
a
heart
to
believe
the
gospel
he
never
closes
it
back
up
once
we
are
his
we
are
always
his
and
the
working
of
this
gospel
truth
in
our
hearts
leads
to
a
perseverance
of
faith
beyond
even
our
own
imaginations
and what
we
think
we
might
could
endure
for
the
sake
of
Christ
to
truly
accept
the
gospel
as
the
word
of
God
is
to
be
unafraid
of
what
man
might
do
to
us
why
because
we
accept
the
gospel
as
the
word
of
God
and
what
does
the
gospel
tell
us
that
because
of
Jesus
we
know
that
death
leads
to
life
what
can
man
do
to
me
what
can
they
take
from
me
and
while
we
may
fear
the
hardship
itself
and
rightly
so
Christians
will
always
face
persecution
with
the
comfort
of
the
word
of
God
that
is
at
work
in
them
what
does
the
word
do
in
believers
it
saves
the
sinner
it
strengthens
the
saint
you
want to
finish
and next
week
Lord willing
we'll
examine
the
back
half
of
this
paragraph
and
how
this
passage
implies
that
the
word
of
God
works
against
the
unbeliever
but
before
I
close
this
morning
I
want
to
just
briefly
present
what
is
the
reality
for
those
who
do
not
accept
the
gospel
as
the
word
of
God
for
me
not
to
do
this
would
be
unfaithful
and
ultimately
unhelpful
to do
so I
want you
to turn
just a
second
Thessalonians
just a
page or
two
over
second
Thessalonians
chapter
two
verses
nine
and
ten
Paul
here
is
he's
speaking
about
the
end
events
that
are
going
to
lead
to
the
return
of
Christ
the
man
of
lawlessness
or as
is
mentioned
in other
places
the
antichrist
that
one
whom
satan
is
using
to
deceive
the
world
and
he's
addressing
that
here
in
these
two
verses
and
I
want
to
point
out
something
to
you
that
he
says
that
is
helpful
for
us
he says
in
verse
nine
the
coming
of
the
lawless
one
is
by
the
activity
of
satan
with
all
power
and
false
signs
and
wonders
he's
going
to be
empowered
to do
some
pretty
amazing
things
and
with
all
wicked
deception
all of
that
is
deception
for
those
who
are
perishing
the
tense
there
is
important
this
is
a
present
tense
not
those
who
have
perished
those
who
are
perishing
it's
a
present
condition
it
is
deception
for
those
who
are
perishing
because
they
refuse
to
love
the
truth
and
so
be
saved
therefore
God
sends
them
a
strong
delusion
that
delusion
being
this
lawless
who
perishing
refers
to
God's
eternal
judgment
to
eternal
hell
and
these
people
are
said
to
face
that
judgment
because
notice
what it
doesn't
say
it doesn't
say
because
they
are
the
worst
sinners
that
humankind
has
ever
known
that's
not
what
the
text
says
the
text
makes
clear
they
face
this
judgment
because
they
refused
to
love
the
truth
and
so
be
saved
by
it
now
what's
given
to
us
as
loving
the
truth
which
leads
to
salvation
it's
the
same
word
in
chapter
two
of
first
the
Thessalonians
for
accepted
in
one
place
the
English
it
says
accepted
in
other
places
It
says
love
same
word
means
the
same
thing
emphasizing
the
same
thing
in
other
words
those
who
will
not
accept
and
love
the
gospel
of
Jesus
as
the
word
of
God
for
salvation
will
in
the
end
perish
!
as a
result
of
God's
righteous
wrath
not
because
they
were
the
worst
sinners
but
because
they
refused
the
salvation
that
he
offers
and
this
is
the
reality
for
all
who
do
not
accept
the
truth
if
you
are
an
unbeliever
this
is
your
reality
today
now
however
God
so
loved
the
world
that
he
gave
his
only
son
that
whoever
believes
in
him
will
not
perish
it
won't
perish
not
because
you're
good
not
because
you
got
it
together
not
because
you
were
better
than
the
guy
next
to
you
no
but
because
you
believed
because
you
accepted
what
you
received
because
you
loved
and
welcomed
what
you
received
for
God
did
not
send
his
son
into
the
world
to
condemn
the
world
but
in
order
that
the
world
might
be
saved
through
him
right
now
you're
perishing
but
you don't
have
to
perish
there's
no
reason
for
you
to
perish
except
what
you've
received
this
morning
turn
from
your
sin
reject
the
unbelief
come
to
Christ
he
will
save
you
he
will
save
you
and
there
is
salvation
in
no
other
name
but
his
but
you
have
to
take
him
on
his
terms
and
he
says
if
you
were
going
to
come
after
me
what
it's
going
to
take
is
!
that
you
deny
yourself
and
you
take
cross
and
follow
me
that
it
means
you
forsake
everything
else
you
forsake
it
all
free
him
that's
what
it
means
to
accept
the
word
that's
what
it
means
to
love
the
word
to
welcome
the
word
and
Jesus
says
if
you
will
do
that
you
will
not
perish
you
will
have
eternal
life
so
receive
his
life
why
wouldn't
you
receive
it
today
receive
it
today
take
Thank you.