2 Thessalonians 2:13 Bible Teaching

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Okay, so we are wandering out of the passages about the end times and antichrist and come to verse 13 where Paul says:

2nd Thessalonians 2.13
September 27th 2020
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2nd Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

And that wraps up the chapter. So back to verse 13 then where Paul says:

13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord,

WHY? (Next line)

“because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”

And we come to a line that ought to be addressed contextually because if we don’t address it contextually we may make the assumption that God, from the beginning, elects all, meaning some, to salvation only, and therefore He does not elect others, which is part of the unfortunate doctrine of Reformed Theology or Calvinism.

When we read the scripture, we always have to remember the audience to whom it was originally written, and we have to remember other points of context like the purpose, the setting, the author and the subject surrounding the passage at hand.

HERE THIS LOUD AND CLEAR:

A single passage does not a doctrine make. What’s interesting is that the way the human mind is wired is we seek affirmation for our views wherever it can be found and then once establishing them typically deny contradictions to the same thereafter.

In other words we see what we want to see, and find what we want to find. And this is the way it is with most things in life.

For instance if a person honestly comes to believe that crows are invading the earth they will usually begin to see crows everywhere. Simultaneously, they will often ignore other birds which might get in the way of their theory.

Thomas Gilovich proves this trait in humans in his studies – that the human brain will grab on and remember whatever it is that supports their view and will discard evidences to the contrary – all as a means to keep order in life and reduce complexity and uncertainty.

And there is perhaps no better evidence of this than in our religious certainties.

Knowing this about ourselves its really important to try and assess situations and information as objectively as possible – which is really hard to do – perhaps even impossible without God.

And this is why looking to the Spirit and the Word is so vitally important when undertaking the task of establishing spiritual truths.

With scripture, we test our interpretations through the things I just mentioned – as well as against the rest of the Bible – and hopefully by the Light of God.

And let me tell you a truism. Scripture cannot contradict itself. So, if we come across a contradiction the contradiction lies in either translation, manuscript source, or our understanding of scripture.

So if we find a passage that says “Jesus is Lord” and you find a passage that say “Jesus is not Lord,” you have to assess both passages it in light of author, setting, context, the rest of scripture, the Greek, audience, manuscript evidences and all the other factors you can think of to try and understand what is meant by the two opposing statements.

This produces a sound hermeneutic or understanding of scripture.

So, here we are presented with a passage that clearly states something that supports the Reformed teaching that God elects people to salvation (and therefore the Calvinist asserts that he therefore rejects others).

Let’s read it again:

13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord,
because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”

Is there anyway to get around this passage and the clarity of it? I don’t think so. Paul is very plain – “they were giving thanks to them, their brethren in the Lord, because God had from the beginning chosen them to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.”

So, in the face of this we must admit the God’s election is a reality in scripture. Can’t deny it.

However, does this passage prove five point Calvinism and its definition of election? Does it say that God rejects the rest? Who is the audience? Was this passage written to all believers?

See, because of setting, audience, authorship, and other passages that contradict this one, and the host of other factors, we know that while the passage holds water, the interpretation and application of the passage by Reformed theologians is errant.

Nevertheless, the passage does, in fact support election (of some sort) in scripture. And so, it is our job to then examine the body of scripture that speaks to election and see how it is explained and used relative to the rest of the content.

This is really important to you seekers out there – so important that I am going to move these bionic hips of mine and go to the white board to have you read how you might categorize passages relative to the topic of election in your mind.

I see presently, scripture speaking of God’s election in a few ways:

First, relative to “them/before,” meaning the Nation of Israel

Second, relative to “them/then” – who are the bride and the first fruits of many drawn to the Messiah.

Third, relative to “us/now”– who are the many brothers to come in after the first fruits of the Bride.

Fourth, relative to “those/later” – meaning all who are drawn to him, whose mouths confess and knees bow and say that Jesus is Lord at some point in their existences.

Does God elect? For sure. Who? Again, look at the board – I suggest that scripture speaks of his election of those categories and so I will address them beginning with . . .

“Them/Before”
We know from Romans 9 (and from many other places) that God elected/chose the Nation of Israel to be his people from among all other nations. No doubt.

He elected the Nation to bring about the scripture, the Law and ultimately the Messiah through its genealogical lines.

There are a few realities about election that we can see through the Nation of Israel and that carry forward to all who are elected.

The first reality is God elects some to do thing for others.
The second is those whom God elects are not favored by God (he cannot be a respecter of persons) but are simply used by Him for his specific ends. And
Third, all who he elects are elected to suffer.

Suffer for whom? Those who come along later.

We generally think of the elect as being those elected to “sit on thrones, and are fed grapes,” but the reality for all whom God elects is suffering, from the Noah, Abraham, Moses, the Nation of Israel, John the Baptist, Jesus, his apostles, the Bride of Christ in that day, and all those who have and will follow him thereafter – the call is synonymous with suffering.

In fact, I am of the opinion that even those who reject his invitation here and enter into the next life as unbelievers, in order for them to come to repentance, and bow the knee, will have to experience some measure of suffering the principle of it seems to be so essential.

So, after the “Them/Before,” the Nation of Israel, elected by God, chosen, to do what they did and to suffer along the way.

Then we have the election of “Them/Then”
The people living in the age of Jesus and then of his apostles. They were primarily Jews who had converted to Christianity, who came out from under the Law and suffered persecution as a result of receiving Christ.

The Messiah had come to “them/then,” and in their receiving the Messiah by faith, and following the apostolic lead given them, became the Bride of Christ. These would be the first to inhabit the New Jerusalem above and would inaugurate the wrapping up of that former age while introducing the present age.

God most assuredly, had, from the foundation of the world, “elected them/then to be His, to be saved from the coming destruction, and to make up the bride of His Son. These were collectively without spot or wrinkle, they were unblemished, 144,000 of them were not defiled by women, taken from the twelve tribes of Israel and they were holy.

Gathered in the seven actual churches Jesus spoke directly to them of the things that they had to change before he came to them quickly. They SUFFERED. Big time. And what was the purpose of their election besides what we have already mentioned?

As the Bride of Christ, they, along with her husband, bring forth more of God’s elect into His Kingdom. Who are the more? All who will receive the invitation to come to Him by faith. All who receive the invitation to love God and to love others more than their own lives and selves.

There are therefore passages of scripture the speak to the election of “Us/Now” – of those who have and will join the heavenly Kingdom by grace through faith. Does God call to all now? Yes. All.

Does God know who his elect are in the world? Of course he does! But his knowing does not determine our reception. It’s a two-way street which we can readily see IF we take all the mitigating passages that offset election alone into account.

So yes, He knows who will choose to receive His call and in that sense those who do are his elect, but I do not see this in a pre-destinational sense, but simply us choosing to do what God knew we would choose to do all along.

People say that he created us so therefore he is the founder of our choices and here is where I resist and suggest that he created us with the capacity to choose, not the incapacity, and in His image, we all choose to receive Him – or not.

Of what does “our election” (meaning the election of those who choose Him in this life) consist?

All the same realities that everyone whom he elects experience:

We are not favored or special.
We are going to be used to do more good for others later, and
We will suffer – because all who enter the Kingdom of God enter by suffering.

We know from scripture that believers in the past and today:

We serve as salt and light amidst the dark corruption that resides, acting as a preserve on the earth. That as the faithful weaken, the earth weakens with it causing the light to dim.

We also serve to bring others to the faith by our lives and words, giving more and more hope in the world through Him.

Finally, we are increasing the power of God with every act of faith and love as He works in and through us, overcoming the dark with light.

Is there suffering in this call? You tell me? To love as God wants instead of to live as our flesh wants?

More insufferable that being put to death on a stake in my estimation.

So we have God electing the Nation of Israel and all of her prophets. We have him electing John the Baptist to bring about Yeshua, the apostles, the bride of Christ, and the offspring of Christ and His bride – the body as long as this earth stands.

Finally, we have “those/later.” Those whom God knew would not receive Him by faith. Why even have such a category? Because scripture says that “God will not have any perish but that all will come to repentance.” That is victory and that is good news.

In Reformed Theology, God elects some, and not others, and therefore Christ only suffered for the sins of some, not the world as scriptures clearly says.

Calvin had to assert this because he knew that if Christ paid for the sins of all then all would ultimately be reconciled to Him.

As a means to offset this he and those who follow his teaching assert that election is only to some, and therefore atonement, and therefore the fact that all will come to repentance is rejected by them – and therefore most will go to the eternal hell forever more – because our loving God wills it.

In the presence of all scripture including the fact that “every knee will bow and every tongue confess,” we cannot ignore the fact that there is a plan for those/later.

God through Christ has had the victory over sin and death by and through His calling and election of the Nation of Israel, the Bride of Christ, Sons and Daughters thereafter, ultimately extending out to the rest of humanity in the end.

All according to his purposes – which are good, which are love, which are light.

So, we all play our part and we play our part well.

I want to do something sort of fun this morning (fun for me at least) and let’s work through a number of the main passages that speak to election and see, using this model of interpretation, how to categorize the passages considered.

As an FYI, Romans 8-11 are huge chapters on election as is Ephesians 1. Study them independently remembering the categories – it will help. I am not going to read through them now.

So, in John 15:16, Jesus said: You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (To His Apostles – Them/then)

Ephesians 1:4-5 Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, (Paul To Jews who converted to the faith – context proves this is who he was speaking about through his use of “we” and “us” followed by his use of “you”)

Romans 8:28-30 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (To them/then but referring to us now)

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. (To them/then, the first fruits – note, that if there are first-fruits there are other fruits)

Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. (To them/then of the Gentiles)

2 Timothy 1:9 Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began (or before the foundations of the world, to Them/Then, meaning the Bride/First fruits)

Revelation 13:8 And all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. (to them/then, the first-fruits bride)

John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. (to the first fruits bride – them/then. The relationship of Father giving ends when the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY assumes the throne in Revelation 4)

Romans 9:16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. (to them/then, to us now, to those later. Was NOT to the Nation of Israel)

John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. (to them/then) I suggest that the LGA draws all to Him now. Most refuse the election.

Mark 13:20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. (to them/then. period.)

1 Peter 1:2 According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (to all everywhere)

Romans 8:29 “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son,” (If we stop there, it is to them/then – but listen to the rest of the verse) “in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Which includes “us/now.”)

Matthew 22:14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (That word chosen is the same word for elected. Contextually this line comes at the end of a long parable about a man invited to the marriage of the Kings son after all the primary guests (Jews) refuse the invite. This man, coming from the highways and byways, is invited and attends but is lacking the wedding garment and is cast out – hence the idea of many are called into the wedding but few of them are chosen – to remain, to stay, as they are not willing to change.)

Ephesians 1:11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will (Them/Then – speaking directly of Jews and not even Gentile converts)

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (All this speaks of is God granting His Grace through faith which is a promise to all)

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (to those/later)

1 Peter 1:20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you. (them/then)

Ephesians 1:5 He predestined “us” (Jews) for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, (Them/then Jews)

Romans 8:33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. (Any of God’s elect – Then/Then and Us/now and ultimately, all)

Intercessory prayer John 17:9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. (Them/Then – His bride)

John 6:39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. (Them/Then in my estimation)

John 17:6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.” (Them/Then – specifically the apostles)

Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, (Them/Then)

Romans 11:2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? (Then/Before – the Nation of Israel)

Luke 18:7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? (Them/Then – see Revelation – under the throne of God)

Mark 13:27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. (Them/Then – eschatologically)

Romans 9:11-13 Though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” (Them/Before – Nation of Israel)

Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (All as his elections are always a means to accomplish more better bigger – those are his purposes)

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (Quite literally – them/then – explain relative to the bride being without spot and being in the New Jerusalem. Us? Potentially. Those later? Doubtful)

Colossians 3:12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, etc etc. (To them/then. Perhaps us now)

Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” (Them/Then – Paul)

1 John 2:2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (All of Us)

1 Thessalonians 1:4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, (Them/Then and frankly, all before and after)

Romans 8:30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Them/Then – in reality, the Bride)

John 6:65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” (Them/Then – and all the rest therafter called by the LGA).

Isaiah 45:4 For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. (Them/Before)

John 17:2 Since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. (Them Then)

Galatians 1:15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, (Them/Then Paul – and the point that I beleive that some are, in fact, especially set apart by God to do certain things, and Paul is a good example. But this does not mean all.)

Romans 9:18 So, then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. (Over the course of human history, this may be the case. But the question is the purpose, not the mercy and not the hardening? And the purpose is always good – which is counter to the Reformed stance)

In Romans 11:5 Paul points out that during the time of Baal God selected 7000 men to remain faithful and then adds, “So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.” (No doubt – all purposeful – and done to all groups over time.)

Revelation 17:14 “They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” (Them/then – the bride)

1 Peter 5:13 “She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son.” (Them/then – bride)

Revelation 17:8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. (Them/Then – the Bride)

2 Timothy 2:10 Paul says: Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (Them/Then – the Bride)

Romans 11:5-7 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened (Them/Before specifically – then Them/Then)

John 10:15 Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. (specifically Them/Then – perhaps to us)

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (Them/then and Us/Now)

Acts 18:10 “For I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” (Them/then and perhaps us now)

Matthew 24:31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Then/then)

MITIGATING PASSAGES
Isaiah 55:1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (to all)

2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

1 Timothy 2:4 Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1 Peter 2:6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Matthew 23:37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and you were not willing!

Romans 10:1-21 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. …

1 Timothy 4:10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

John 12:32 “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

Acts 17:30 “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,”

Romans 10:14-17 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

John 7:17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.

Joshua 24:15 “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Proverbs 16:9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

John 1:12-13 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.

Ezekiel 18:30-32 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!

And we will end there for today.
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