The Peace of God
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As Paul concludes his second letter to the church at Thessalonica, he ends with a typical Pauline closing. However, it is imperative to remember that scriptural repetition is purposed and important.
1. Paul Emphasizes the Peace of God (v. 16)
1. Paul Emphasizes the Peace of God (v. 16)
This verse has been called a peaceful closing to a stormy epistle.
In it, Paul prays that the suffering saints may know the peace of the Lord of peace at all times and in every way.
Throughout scripture, we find two elements of God’s peace:
A. Peace with God
A. Peace with God
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
B. The Peace of God
B. The Peace of God
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
2. Paul Emphasizes His Personal Signature (v. 17)
2. Paul Emphasizes His Personal Signature (v. 17)
Some believe it was his physical John Hancock or possibly his signature closing.
3. Paul Emphasizes the Grace of God (v. 18)
3. Paul Emphasizes the Grace of God (v. 18)
Paul often would highlight in closing the importance of God’s grace abiding with His church.
We often look at grace (God’s unmerited favor) as an element of salvation, but we must also apply it to every day living. We need God’s grace not only for eternal life, but daily life!
Part of that grace is what Paul emphasized throughout first and second Thessalonians - Jesus is coming back.
As highlighted in the Bible Believer’s Commentary, concerning the rapture of the church:
1. It should have a purifying influence on our lives
1. It should have a purifying influence on our lives
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
2. It should burden us to pray and work for the salvation of the lost
2. It should burden us to pray and work for the salvation of the lost
So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.
But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’
3. It should encourage us to persevere in spite of persecution and trial
3. It should encourage us to persevere in spite of persecution and trial
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
4. It should make us reduce our holdings of material possessions; their value declines as His coming approaches
4. It should make us reduce our holdings of material possessions; their value declines as His coming approaches
‘And you shall count seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years; and the time of the seven sabbaths of years shall be to you forty-nine years. Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land. And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family.
5. It should constrain us to apologize to anyone we have wronged and to make restitution where necessary
5. It should constrain us to apologize to anyone we have wronged and to make restitution where necessary
leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
6. It should inspire us to diligent service knowing that the night is coming when no one can work
6. It should inspire us to diligent service knowing that the night is coming when no one can work
I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
7. It should keep us in the attitude of expectancy and abiding in Him so we will not be ashamed before Him as His coming
7. It should keep us in the attitude of expectancy and abiding in Him so we will not be ashamed before Him as His coming
And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
8. It should make us bold to confess Christ
8. It should make us bold to confess Christ
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.
9. It should prove to be a comforting hope
9. It should prove to be a comforting hope
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Therefore comfort one another with these words.
10. It should be an encouragement to moderation, gentleness, and sweet reasonableness
10. It should be an encouragement to moderation, gentleness, and sweet reasonableness
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
11. It should be a motive for unity and love
11. It should be a motive for unity and love
And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
12. It should encourage an other-worldly attitude
12. It should encourage an other-worldly attitude
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
13. It should be a reminder of coming review and reward
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.