2 John & 3 John Walking in Truth and Love

TMS Mt 28:19-20 The Great Omission

Mt 28:18 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

19 Go therefore and

make disciples of all the nations,

baptizing them in the name of 
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe/obey all things that I have commanded you;

and lo, I am with you always,

even to the end of the age." Amen

Observations: 28:19-20 What is the Great Commission of Jesus, to make obedient disciples, has become the Great Omission of the modern church. With a focus on evangelism, growth, missions, outreach, and a host of other good, but secondary things. Churches exist to bring glory to God by making reproductive disciples. Anything less is missing the mark. Baptizing does presuppose converts which are the result of evangelism, but it is subordinate (grammatically and practically to making disciples).

There is one main verb in 19-20, the imperative command to make disciples (followers of Jesus). The imperative is modified by three participles:

• as you go/going (which means it's a lifestyle thing, starting where you are);
• baptizing is more than a ritualistic getting wet, but is an immersion in the name/power of the triune God (see the upcoming Catacomb Church Blog for more about how to help people get plugged into the power of God);
• teaching them to obey; this is the missing link of ministry, many focus on belief, but the Scriptures and Jesus focus on obedience for those who have believed. In some churches, people just show up on Sunday every now and then to make sure salvation is still by faith, and then go home to live lives that bring no glory to God (nor themselves in the final accounting).

For those who do obey Jesus and follow this command to make disciples (who can teach others to obey this command, ie, reproductive disciples), Jesus makes a promise of His abiding presence until He comes back for them at the end of this present age.

Application: The key test of a reproductive disciple is that they can repeat the process with someone else. See (and obey) the 7PASSAGES in the Sidebar.

Prayer: Lord, thanks that You give meaning and purpose in this life, as well as Your presence to those who believe and obey You, and glory in the next.   Help me embrace Your commission as the guiding force for my life. Amen.

2John & 3John These two tiny letters from John the Apostle are much easier to understand than his other writings. The first is addressed to an elect/chosen lady and her children. It's most likely that John has personified the church as a chosen lady (matching the greeting in verse 13, possibly envisioning the church as the Bride of Christ, and the believers as her children). The second is to a man named Gaius, who might have been any one of the three men by that name mentioned in Acts 19-20 or Romans 16, or an unknown church leader. In both epistles John encourages his readers to walk in truth and love, and then gives some specific warnings and instructions to keep the believers from being sidetracked.

2John 1

1:1 The elder, to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all those who know the truth; 2 for the truth’s sake, which remains in us, and it will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in/by/en truth and love.

4 I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.

5 Now I beg you, dear lady, not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning,

that we love one another.

6 This is love, that we should walk according to his commandments.

This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning,

that you should walk in it.

7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don’t confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist.

8 Watch yourselves, that we don’t lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whoever transgresses and doesn’t abide in the teaching of Christ, doesn’t have God. He who abides in the teaching, the same has both the Father and the Son.

10 If anyone comes to you, and doesn’t bring this teaching, don’t receive him into your house, and don’t welcome him, 11 for he who welcomes him participates in his evil works.

12 Having many things to write to you, I don’t want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you, and to speak face to face, that our joy may be made full. 13 The children of your chosen sister greet you. Amen.

Observations: 1:1-3 John, the beloved disciple and apostle identifies himself as an elder (presbuteros cf 1Pt 5:1). He personifies the church he truly loves as a “chosen or elect lady” (cf verse 13), and the believers as her children (a verse demonstrating the corporate aspect of election). The reason for the figure of speech isn't given, but perhaps there was a need to keep the identity or location secret to avoid persecution. However, everyone who knows (perfect tense) the truth loves the recipients for the sake of the truth in them. He uses the perfect tense to indicate that the knowledge of the truth occurred in the past with continuing results into the present, and then he stresses the permanently abiding nature of the truth in the into the future (eis the Age). He then wishes them God's covenantal blessings of grace, mercy (usual translation of hesed) and peace which will be with them by means of (en) truth and love (themes in 1John).

1:4-6 John rejoices that he found “some” (no word in the Greek, but it fits the context from the preposition ek) of her children walking in the truth according to the commandment. He repeats the concept of walking according to the commandment in verse 6, forming an inclusio around “love” at the end of verse 5 and beginning of verse 6. The chief commandment Jesus gave His followers according to John in 13:34 is love, for one another. He exhorts the church to continue to manifest the love Jesus modeled (self-sacrificial service of another's needs).

1:7 He warns them of Satan's agents, the false teachers who seek to deceive believers to keep them from following the truth. They don't acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah in the flesh. In 1John 4:3-4, he wrote of Jesus having come in the flesh (perfect tense). Here he uses the present tense “coming” possibly looking forward to the second coming. In any event, the false teachers are anti-Messiah (Christ=Messiah, the Anointed One). They deny that the Messiah came, and would return, since He didn't come the first time.

1:8 John tells them to watch out that they aren't swayed from believing the truth, so that “we” don't lose (literally apolllumi “destroyed”) what “we've produced/worked for,” but might receive a full reward. Note three things: 1) John includes himself in those who would suffer loss if the readers stray from the truth; 2) reward is the result of laboring or working in helping others walk according the truth; 3) reward can be full, or partial, or lost (as in experience destruction). The word for reward is also used of paying wages. No work, no wages. This is one of the more ignored passages in modern evangelicalism, and it destroys a lot of bogus theology.

1:9 Whoever transgresses (steps over the line) and doesn't abide in the teaching of Christ (as in love one another) doesn't have God. To have God was explained in 1John, of having an abiding, intimate relationship with Him. To not have Him, is to not have that “abiding in the vine" relationship (Jn 15) which results in loss of reward (see comments on Mt 7 “I never knew you”). This does not mean that people never had, nor lose their forgiveness/justification, but they lose out on the blessings of God now, and in the future kingdom. Whoever abides in the teaching of Christ (through obedience) has both the Father and Son (Jn 14:21). The distinction between the Father and Son probably points to Judaizers who claimed God was their Father, and didn't give allegiance to His Son (Mt 3:9), but were instead trying to get believers to follow OT ritual.

1:10-13 John was all for love, but love must be guided by truth and discernment (Phil 1:9-10) if one is to reap reward. In fact those who don't bring the teaching about walking in love and obedience to gain and keep reward should not be welcomed, nor allowed into the house (church?) for those who welcome them share in their evil works and punishment. John has more to say, but wants to speak in person, so that his joy might be made full. He closes with a greeting from a sister church.

Application: What work have you done that God will reward? Are you in danger of losing it by valuing the acceptance of people more than the praise of God?

Prayer: God, may I abide in Your truth, and Your commandments, and You, so that I keep away from what is false, and do the things for which You will reward me. Thanks for abiding with me. Amen.

3John 1 Imitate what is Good

1:1 The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth. 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers.

3 For I rejoiced greatly, when brothers came and testified about your truth, even as you walk in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear about my children walking in truth.

5 Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you accomplish for those who are brothers and strangers. 6 They have testified about your love before the assembly. You will do well to send them forward on their journey in a way worthy of God, 7 because for the sake of the Name they went out, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

9 I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words. Not content with this, neither does he himself receive the brothers, and those who would, he forbids and throws out of the assembly. 11 Beloved, don’t imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of God. He who does evil hasn’t seen God.

12 Demetrius has the testimony of all, and of the truth itself; yes, we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true. 13 I had many things to write to you, but I am unwilling to write to you with ink and pen; 14 but I hope to see you soon, and we will speak face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.

Observations: 1:1-4 John writes to Gaius, whom he loves in truth (truly), and prays that Gaius might prosper in all things physical, including health, just as he is prospering spiritually. This raises the question of: “How does one have a prosperous soul?” Our soul consists of our mind, will/values, and emotions, and is what makes us distinctively us. It is what we exchange for things during our time on earth. It is what we must deny if we are to follow Christ, and lose if we are to gain heavenly or kingdom rewards (Lk 9:23-26). The testimony of the brothers let John know that his soul was prospering, by reporting how Gaius walked/live in the truth. He particularly demonstrated his commitment to truth by his love and service for others. John has no greater joy (as do most Biblical parents) than to hear that their children (in this case a spiritual one) walk in the truth. Worldling parents are proud that their children are successful in the world's eyes. Those who love God are most proud that their children are successful in God's sight. Being righteous is all about being careful to do what is right in God's sight, which means walking according to His commands, and loving others Biblically.

1:5-8 John commends Gaius for faithfully seeing to the needs of those itinerant ministers who were at or passing through his location. They were workers for the truth (verse 8) who went out (missionaries) for the sake of the Name of Jesus, receiving no support from the Gentiles (to whom they ministered). The recipients of Gaius' hospitality testified to the love he had shown them. John says he does well/good (good works) in sending them to their next destination provisioned in a manner worthy of the ambassadors of the Most High God. John says believers ought to receive/welcome such workers of the truth (as contrasted with 2John 10, where believers are told to reject the false teachers). Those who welcome and encourage workers for the truth (financially and otherwise) share in their work (sun-ergos) as fellow-workers.

1:9-11 John said he wrote (instruction/truth) to the church but one of Satan's agents, Diotrephes, was taken captive by pride (loves to be first) to do his will (cf 2Tim 2:24-26), and was opposing the written revelation of the apostles. If John comes to visit, he will highlight and admonish his deeds, which include maligning the apostles with wicked words (this usually happens to all who speak God's words, because Satan's agents are ubiquitous). Diotrophes wasn't just content to speak against the truth and those who communicated it, but he would reject those who brought itinerant workers who brought the truth and toss out of the chuch those who would welcome them. Here is a clear example of what Paul talked about in Acts 20:29-30. People would rise to position of power in the church, not to help others obey Jesus, but to do the devil's work. John counsels Gaius (in a good lesson for all believers) to not imitate what is evil, but follow the good examples. Those who do good, are of God. Those who do evil haven't seen God. In 1John is was made clear that to see God in John's thinking is to have an abiding, intimate relationship with Him.

1:12 In contrast to Diotrephes, Demetrius had a good testimony from all, and the truth as well. John even gave him honor with apostolic approval. We're not told what he did, but it would have been the opposite of Diotrephes, walking in truth and love for the service of others.

Like his last letter, John wants to say more, but hopes to do so in person. He wishes Gaius the covenantal blessing of peace, and extends greetings.

Application: Believers need to be workers for the truth and join with others in imitating what is good, and opposing evil in the church.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray You would encourage and support those who work for sharing Your truth with others, and that You would restrain and rebuke the agents of the evil one who lead others astray. Amen.

Digging Deeper

God in a nutshell: God loves it when His children walk in the truth.

Build-a-Jesus: Jesus is the Messiah, who came in the flesh, and will come again to reward His faithful servants, who obey His command to love one another.

Us in a nutshell: We need to walk in truth and love to gain our reward, welcoming those who do so, and rejecting those who don't.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

1 Thessalonians 1-3 Joy and Crown

1 Thessalonians 1-3 Joy and Crown

TMS Lamentations 3:22-23 Hope in His Hesed

Lam 3:22-23 “21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.

22 Through the LORD's hesed 
we are not consumed,

because His compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

24 "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!" 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. 26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.“

Observations: 3:22-23 We all make mistakes; some make more and bigger mistakes than others, with greater consequences. Lamentations tells us how to respond to stupid suffering (consequences from our sin). Even when we've blown it big-time, we can trust in God's revealed character and hesed (loyal covenantal love) to accept us back when we repent (as He promised). God's hesed and faithfulness to His promises are major themes in the Psalms and the rest of the OT as well. Hesed is usually translated as mercy or loving kindness, neither of which does justice to the word. It is His loyalty to us, and our loyalty to Him that constitute an intimate relationship of trust, just like a marriage. Even when we violate our promises/vows, He will keep His to bless and curse as He promised. Jeremiah writes these verses contemplating the fall and destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (see comments on Lamentations 3 for context). The actions of the nation totally deserved total annihilation, but God was loyal to His promises to Abraham and David, thus He preserved the nation from being totally consumed. Knowing God's hesed gave Jeremiah hope that there would be restoration.

For God's purposes in suffering see: What a Friend We Have in Suffering

For understanding undeserved suffering see 1Peter 5: Suffering to Answer the Call to Glory

Application: Each day God graciously offers a fresh start to a better relationship with Him; accept it, on His terms.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I praise You for being faithful and loyal to me and all Your promises; thanks that I can trust Your hesed even when I've blown it; help me live loyally with You today. Amen.

1Thessalonians 1-3 Paul planted the church at Colosse on his second missionary journey (Acts 17), amid intense opposition from the Jews. This epistle is thought to be Paul's first, or second (after Galatians), written in response to information from Timothy who had been sent to encourage the believers in the faith (3:2), in the face of persecution. Paul also encouraged them, by reinforcing the truth, and his love for them, and then corrected some misconceptions, particularly about the coming of the Lord, so that they would be perfected and blameless in holiness when Jesus returned. The first two chapters have a roughly chiastic structure centered around 2:8-9, with the last phrase of verse 8 being the middle, “you had become very dear to us.” As such, it reveals Paul's love and ministry toward the young and growing believers, bearing fruit in a hostile environment.

1Thessalonians 1 Faith, Love, and Hope

1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ/Messiah: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ/Messiah.

2 We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers, 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ/Messiah. (NIV) 4 We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen, 5 and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake.

6 You became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction/tribulation, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has been declared, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out; so that we need not to say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you; and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Observations: 1:1-5 Silas and Timothy were with Paul on his second missionary journey (Acts 15:22) during which the church at Thessalonica was planted. Paul wishes them the covenantal blessings of grace and peace from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus the Messiah. He thanks God for their visible faith, love, and hope. The NIV does a good job of translating verse 3, bringing out the force of the Genitive cases (which usually means source or possession, and is frequently translated “of”). Paul thanked God for the work “of” or sourced in their faith, their labor sourced in love, and their endurance sourced in their hope in the Messiah. Faith which believes God rewards those who diligently seek Him (Heb 11:6) does the work for which we are saved/justified (Eph 2:8-10). This has led some to erroneously conclude that if there are no works, there is no salvation. Forgiveness/justification is by faith and free; rewards/glorification require work. Their labor or service (from a word that means “beat up”) was sourced in love (the most likely love is that for each other, as referenced later in the epistle in 3:12 and 4:9). Their hope of future reward that they heard about in the good news of the coming Kingdom produced/inspired an endurance that enabled them to persevere through the difficulties of following Christ.

Revelation 14:13 I heard the voice from heaven saying, "Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’" "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them."

Their demonstrable faith, love, and hope were evidence that they were in the elect/chosen group that God had slated for blessing (see comments on Ephesians 1). This is not about being justified, but rather choice saints who would be blessed. Otherwise the false teaching would be that only those who labor and endure are forgiven. The good news came to them not only in mere words, but in a demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit, and much basis for confidence in the truth of the message.

1:6-10 Knowing that Paul and his companions were sent from God gave the Thessalonians confidence to become imitators of them, and the Lord. They received the truth in the midst of much opposition from the Jews (Acts 17). The Thessalonian Jews not only caused problems in their own city, but followed Paul to Berea to cause him trouble. Yet there was joy produced by the Holy Spirit, despite the circumstances. Word of the Thessalonians' faith spread throughout the regions so Paul didn't even need to preach. Everyone talked about how they turned from idols to serve the one true, and living God. Not only that, they demonstrated works, labor, and endurance as they waited for the return of their Messiah from heaven, to set up His Millennial Kingdom. Believers not only turn from sin, but turn to God to serve Him. Jesus not only saves from the eternal penalty of sin, He delivers faithful believers from the wrath to come (see Isaiah 13:9 and comments on Mt 3:7; Lk 3:7; Rom 1:18; 5:9; Eph 5:6; Col 3:9; Rev 11:18). The coming wrath in the bracketed verses is not about being tossed into the lake of fire, but the righteous judgment of the disobedient who suppress the truth in unrighteousness (see especially comments on Rom 1:18). Most miss this truth because they fail to observe the context regarding who is subject to the wrath. In most cases it is people who had their sins forgiven by participation in the day of atonement, or those who had trusted Christ. Paul warns believers against the wrath that comes upon the sons/children of disobedience in Ephesians and Colossians, as well as in this letter (2:16; 5:9).

Application: If we correctly understand faith and hope, we will love till it hurts, and beyond, knowing God will reward us.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thanks for loving me and giving me a future and hope; please guide me in living by faith in Your promises, and loving others as You've loved me. Thanks too, for the future You have planned for me. Amen.

1Thessalonians 2 Joy and Crown

2:1 For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you wasn’t in vain, 2 but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception. 4 But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts. 5 For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness), 6 nor seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.

7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not the Good News of God only, but also our own souls, because you had become very dear to us. 9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News of God. 10 You are witnesses with God, how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe. 11 As you know, we exhorted, encouraged, and implored/bore witness to every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory.

13 For this cause also we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews; 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and didn’t please God, and are contrary to all men; 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always, so/de wrath comes on them to the uttermost.

17 But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire, 18 because we wanted to come to you—indeed, I, Paul, once and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming? 20 For you are our glory and our joy.

Observations: 2:1-6 As in Corinth (and almost everywhere), there were Satan's agents, seeing to discredit Paul and his message of God's truth (times haven't changed). Paul must have heard some of the slander from Timothy, so he spends a little time defending his conduct among them, and sets up his exhortation to those who had perhaps abandoned their jobs to await Christ's return (4:11; also in 2Thess 3:8-10 -slow learners). After his beating and imprisonment in Philippi, Paul was bold to proclaim the truth to the Thessalonians, and it wasn't in vain; it bore fruit. He spoke the truth truthfully to please God, not holding back to please man, because He knew that God tests the hearts of apostles and believers. Paul didn't teach them for his temporal advantage, nor to seek glory from men (as the Judaizers did). Nor did he use his authority as an apostle to receive benefit from them (see comments on 2Cor 11-12).

2:7-12 This section gives a good snapshot of Paul's personal ministry, which is particularly relevant to present day disciple-makers who want to please God and gain eternal glory from their stay on earth. He was both mother and father to his spiritual children. He was gentle (2Tim 2:14) not hostile, and cherished them as someone does their own flesh and blood (Eph 5:29). His affection for them made him willing to not only suffer to share the truth of the gospel (to which the Jews violently objected) but also his own life/soul. He imparted to them all that he was, because they had become dear/precious to him, probably as a result of their willingness to believe and follow his Lord. Paul worked day and night so as not to be a burden to them financially (nor have his motives challenged). His behavior was above reproach. Paul modeled holiness and righteousness in his interactions with those he was helping get established in the faith. He behaved toward them in a blameless (1Thess 5:23) manner. He not only proclaimed the truth, but followed up with exhortation, encouragement and bearing witness (to future realities) so that those who believed would walk in a manner worthy of the reward to which God called/summoned/invited them in the gospel. Specifically Paul says it is to participation in the Messianic Kingdom, and future glory. This is obviously not a reference to forgiveness/justification, nor belief in Jesus dying for their sins, but the inheritance God has planned for those who are faithful to Him. Just like Israel was redeemed from Egypt by God's grace, their entrance into and possession of the Promised Land was dependent upon drawing upon God's grace to obey Him.

2:13-16 Because God has called/invited/summoned believers to the Messiah's Kingdom (as promised in the OT), Paul thanks God that the Thessalonians responded wholeheartedly to the truth, for that would ensure their worthy walk and consequent participation in the Kingdom. He want this for them, not just for their benefit (although he dearly loved them), but also his own, as the end of the chapter indicates. Paul is thankful that they received his messages as the word of God and not men, and that it produced changes in their lives. They became imitators of the faithful assemblies in Judea in following God and experiencing tribulation from their countrymen, as did the believers in Jerusalem and its surrounds. The demonically energized Jews killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets sent to them (like John the Baptist), drove out the apostles with persecution, and obviously didn't please God (which is essential for the righteousness God rewards). Paul describes them as antagonistic to all men, although God's purpose in constituting the Jews as a nation was to bring all men to Himself for blessing (Gen 12). Instead, the Jews who rejected the Messiah, forbid the apostles to speak to the Gentiles so they would not be blessed by God. Remember the Jews wanted the Gentiles to become Jewish before they could be accepted by God and blessed by Him. But the unrevealed mystery of the gospel is that the Gentiles would be full heirs in Christ, as Gentiles, not Jews, for in union with Christ all distinctions are irrelevant. When this point was understood, the Jews usually started riots and throwing stones, because their worth and value was not based upon pleasing God, but on being better than others. The end result of such behavior is that they filled their sin capacity to overflowing and would face the wrath of God on judgment day, and be excluded from the Kingdom, as Jesus taught (see comments on Mt 8:11-12). The Jew rebellion against God's plan and service of the dark side did not annul God's promise to forgive them on the basis of participation in the Day of Atonement, any more than His discipline of them in Babylon made them not His chosen people. They just would be facing cursing rather than blessing as the OT testified repeatedly. Thus this coming wrath is discipline upon the sons of disobedience, depriving them of blessing/dominion, and should not be equated with the fate of those cast into the lake of fire with Satan. See Romans 11, to understand how God still has a place and promises for the Jews when they will repent.

2:17-20 Paul was eager to see the Thessalonians so he could strengthen them so his labor would not be in vain (3:2,5). Multiple times Paul wanted to minister to them again, but Satan hindered him from visiting. The reason Paul wanted to visit them is because they were his hope (of reward), his (eternal) joy, and his crown (reward) in which he anticipated rejoicing. Crown was a symbol of the rulership or dominion (glory) Paul would receive in the Kingdom. Paul would be rewarded by God for labor he invested in them, and the resultant fruit of their Christlikeness. Verse 20 indicates that they are his glory and joy. When Paul stands before the Lord Jesus when He returns, those who responded to his ministry would be the basis of his glory/reward, and joy. He will continue this thought in the next chapter.

Application: The glory and joy we will have in the future is a result of the disciple-making we do in the present, which pleases the Giver of the Great Commission (Mt 28:19-20).

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may I do what is pleasing in Your sight in ministering to others, regardless of how difficult it gets, knowing that You will richly reward me in Your Kingdom, for my service. Amen.

1Thessalonians 3 Blameless in Holiness at His Coming

3:1 Therefore, when we couldn’t stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you, and to encourage you concerning your faith; 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task. 4 For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know. 5 For this cause I also, when I couldn’t stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.

6 But when Timothy came just now to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you; 7 for this cause, brothers, we were encouraged over you in all our distress and affliction on account of/dia your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we render again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice because/dia of you before our God; 10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you; 12 and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you, 13 to the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Observations: 3:1-5 Paul was concerned that the Thessalonians would have been overwhelmed by the afflictions from the Jews that they would abandon the faith. This is not belief that Christ died for their sins, but that God would reward those who diligently seek Him according to the revelation about the Messiah. So he sent Timothy to establish (make firm) and encourage (call alongside as he climbed the mountain) them in the faith they already had. If they succumbed to the pressure from the Jews, they would not be unborn again, but would not progress to glory. At the end of the last chapter Paul viewed the Thessalonians as the basis for his glory, crown/reward and in the Kingdom when Christ returned. If they failed to follow the path of faith, the labor he invested in them would have been in vain. Although he had great love and fondness for them (the chiastic center of the last two chapters), he was very conscious of what he was exchanging his life for. It looks like the higher priority was not their loss of glory, but his own (cf Heb 12:2). This understanding best explains all the facts.

Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

3:6- Timothy brought good news (same word as gospel) of their faith. They were still believing the good news of the Messiah who would reward His faithful servants (Isa 40:10). Therefore Paul was encouraged that all the effort he had expended and distress he had experienced in the development of their faith was worth it. The apostle who died daily in his service to Christ (1Cor 15:31 -another passage in which Paul anticipates reward resulting from “successful” service) is revived (now we live) by the prospect of the Thessalonians being steadfast in their faith. This is conditional, and not a reference to their justification, but rather their progression in the faith, which would result in joy for Paul at the judgment seat of Christ. When Paul stands before Christ (2Cor 5:9-10) to be recompensed for his deeds, he would have joy on account of the sanctification of the Thessalonians, as a result of his ministry. This is why he was praying exceedingly that he would be able to see them and perfect (bring to completion for service -Mt 4:21 mending nets) what was lacking in their faith. To “perfect” is used for restoring someone overtaken in a fault (Gal 6:1), and being prepared for good works (Heb 10:5; 13:21). A fully trained, reproductive disciple is like his/her discipler (Lk 6:40), able to repeat the process with others. The Thessalonians were lacking an understanding of the process of the Christian life which Paul fervently wanted to correct, so they wouldn't go off track under the stress of afflictions. Obviously, they were not deficient in their understanding of Christ's substitutionary atonement, for they were clearly born again. So the lack has to be concerning their progress in the faith (Phil 1:25).

Colossians 1:22...to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight --- 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

3:11-13 So Paul prays that God would direct his to see them, and that the Lord would make them increase and abound in love. “Increase” and “abound” are in the optative mood, used to express the strongest possible wish for something to happen. Paul wants their love to abound so they might be blameless in holiness when they stand before the judgment seat. Failure to love as Christ loved is blameworthy. Note the priority of love: one another, fellow believers in the Body, have precedence over others. This is consistent with Jesus' great command for believers in John 13:34-35. The love (agapao – self sacrifice for another's best interest) which Paul modeled for them, in leading them to faith, and guiding them to maturity, is the same love they needed to demonstrate toward others. Only then can their hearts be established blameless and holy before God on the day of judgment (Mt 24:44).

Application: If we abound in our love toward each other, we'll do well when Christ returns.

Prayer: Lord, thanks that following You is worth it, regardless of the cost; help me love others as You have loved me. Amen.

Digging Deeper

God in a nutshell: God has revealed truth which should change and guide our lives as we believe and obey it. God allows difficulties and Satan to afflict His servants to try and purify their faith (see 1Pt 1 for elaboration), so He can further reward them.

Build-a-Jesus: Jesus is returning to set up His kingdom and reward His faithful servants. He saves holy believers from the coming wrath of Judgment Day.

Us in a nutshell: Believers should live so their belief/faith in God's revelation is obvious, as should be their love, and hope. Investing in the lives of other is a good way to follow the example of Jesus and Paul. Those who do so can look forward to future judgment with joy.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Colossians 1-2 Pleasing God

Colossians 1-2 Pleasing God

TMS Isaiah 41:10 Where is Your God?

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
11 Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced;
They shall be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall perish.”

Observations: 41:10 Those who have chosen to follow God will frequently have more than the normal share of difficulties, because they are swimming upstream against the flow of their world. They will also have added adversaries in the spiritual realm. But God gives promises to His servants (note context) so that there is no need to fear nor be dismayed. The word for dismay is to look anxiously about, seeking a way of escape or a source of deliverance. The servant of God need not look any further than the all-sufficient God who is next to them, within them, over, under, around, in front of, and behind them. God promises to be with them. (See "The God of Peace" in Philippians 4). He has revealed Himself to be our Helper, to uphold us when we slip or stumble, and pick us up when we fall. His objective is not to harm us, but to bless us. He upholds us with His righteous right hand, attached to His mighty arm. With that kind of help next to us, what is there to fear?

Application: When tempted to fear or flee, remember who your God is and where He is; express your dependence upon Him and look to do His will.

Prayer: “I arise today, through God's strength to pilot me, God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's shield to protect me, God's host to save me   From snares of devils, From temptation of vices, From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise...” Amen.
From St. Patrick's breastplate. http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/t/stpatric.htm

Colossians 1-2 In his letter to the Church at Colosse, which parallels much of the content of Ephesians, Paul emphasizes what forgiven, faith-exercising believers need to do to please Christ. Only those will reap the reward/inheritance promised in the hope held out in the gospel (which is not forgiveness of sins – that's a done deal). He warns Christians of following Jewish ritual (which will disqualify them from their inheritance) rather than following Christ by faith (which ensures their temporal and eternal victory). In their union with Christ, believers have all they need to receive the grace and peace God offers. See link under Digging Deeper for a sermon on Living the Christian Life After the Cross.

Colossians 1 Pleasing God

Colossians 1:1 "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people/saints 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. 7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in/by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation — 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness — 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature/complete in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me."

Observations: 1:1-2 Paul and his faithful sidekick Timothy write to the believers at Colosse. Note how Paul validates and boosts Timothy's status in the eyes of his audience so that they would accept him as a teacher of the truth.
1:3-8 It’s really important to know and understand why the saints at Colosse had noteworthy faith and love. It was because of (sprung from/based upon) their hope. Hope is expectation of reward, which they heard about in the good news of the Kingdom promised in the OT (see the Matthew Introduction). Those who understand the gospel know that the message of God's grace is not just about the grace that forgives our sins, nor just God's empowering grace, but the grace that faithful believers will receive as a reward in the Messianic Kingdom  (see Survey of Grace and 1 Peter 1 if you haven't studied the Biblical use of grace). The expectation of reward bears fruit in the lives of faithful believers as they change their values and behaviors to be in a blessable position. The fruit of the Spirit of grace is love manifested toward other believers in sacrificial service (Galatians 5:22). Epaphras not only taught them and told Paul about the love they had based upon the dynamic of the Spirit, but he also manifested it himself (Colossians 4:12; Philemon 1:23).
1:9-14 Paul wants more for the believers than just to demonstrate faith and love. He prays that knowledge of God's will would fill and control them, so they would please the Lord in every way and be worthy of their inheritance. If you don't know what He wants, it's difficult to do what He wants. Remember that OT righteousness involves both knowing and doing what is right in His sight. The Holy Spirit gives wisdom (choosing the right objectives and means of obtaining them) as well as understanding. The Wisdom Literature teaches that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10). The Holy Spirit gives both wisdom and understanding through His revelation. But Paul's prayer is not just that they would know, but would be filled or controlled by that knowledge. Those who please God not only know and do His will; but they also

• bear fruit in every good work (so He looks good as a result of their lives);
• grow in the knowledge of God;
• draw upon His power so that they would endure the difficulties of following Christ;
• and are excited about their future inheritance.

Believers are qualified to share in the inheritance as a result of being born again. Qualifying for something is different from actually getting or wining it. Those who are on track to receive an inheritance greatly rejoice in it (not forgiveness; cf. 1 Peter 1:6). Those who are not worthy to receive God's reward don't care much about it, and definitely don't rejoice in the prospect of their inheritance. Those who trust Christ as God's provision for their sin have been transferred/moved from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. In union with Christ, we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Note that the basis of our redemption is forgiveness, granted by justifying grace. The basis of reward is our worthy, grace-empowered  fruitfulness and works, which please Christ.
1:15-20 Paul now provides the basis for why the kingdom is Christ's, and God has transferred us to His kingdom. He is the visible expression of the invisible God. He is the Creator of all, and holds all things together, from orbiting electrons to spinning galaxies. He is also the Head of His Body, the church, so that in all things He might be the Supreme Lord of All. This is similar to Paul's exposition of God's purpose for saving us in Ephesians 1 (see comments there). God purposed to have all His fullness (deity) dwell in Christ, and through Him reconcile to Himself all things through the peace secured by the propitiatory payment of the blood sacrifice of the cross.
1:21-23 The need for reconciliation is occasioned by our evil behavior, which resulted in alienation from God. Note the mental state which results in physical sin. Those who were once separated, God justified, on the basis of Christ's death. But it doesn't end there. God wants us to be presented holy and blameless in His sight, but that is clearly conditional. Our forgiveness and escape from the lake of fire is assured, based upon belief in the Father's acceptance of Christ's death. Our holiness and blamelessness is dependent upon belief in the hope or reward held out in the gospel (as referenced in verses 3-8). If we don't believe that God rewards those who diligently seek Him (faith as in Hebrews 11:6), we will seek things that please ourselves rather than what pleases Him. If we are transformed by the renewing of our minds and values, we will be pleased if we know we are pleasing to God, which is the basis of a great self-image. This is the gospel that Paul proclaimed to every creature (obviously a figure of speech - hyperbole).
1:24-29 Paul rejoices in suffering to further benefit the Body of believers. Christ's death constituted them, and then Christ commissioned Paul to further sanctify them through the teaching of the truth about the mystery. The mystery was previously hidden in the OT, that the Gentiles would be blessed as full heirs, equal in inheritance with the Jews.
Acts 26:17 "I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me."
Therefore Paul proclaims the Messiah/Christ, warning and teaching so that all may be fully mature in Christ. Maturity doesn't happen automatically. Those who don't respond to the teaching of truth remain babes. The major mark of maturity is the ability to reproduce. Infants don't reproduce physically nor spiritually. Mature believers engender life in others through evangelism, and nurture that life until it can sustain itself and reproduce that life in others. To this end Paul labors, drawing upon all the grace and power of God. Those who don't respond to God's truth, especially the truth emphasized in this chapter (hope of reward), will not mature nor reap the hope of reward held out in the gospel.

Application: How many of the things that please God are you currently doing on a regular basis? Is God pleased with you?

Prayer: God, thanks that You have forgiven me and have plans to bless me; may I be careful to do what is pleasing in Your sight and reap the hope You have stored up for me. Amen.

Colossians 2 Victory in Jesus

Colossians 2:1 "For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may experience/know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden. 4 Now this I say that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

6 As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in/with thanksgiving. 8 Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob/deceive you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in Him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily,10 and in Him you have been liberally furnished/supplied, who is the head of all principality and power; 11 in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 You were dead through/en your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 wiping out the charge of legal indebtedness (NIV) which was against us; and He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross; 15 having stripped the principalities and the powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no one therefore judge/condemn you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day, 17 which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s. 18 Let no one rob/disqualify you of your reward by a delight in false humility and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth. 20 If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances, 21 “Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch” 22 (all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men? 23 Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh."

Observations: 2:1-5 Paul is concerned that false teaching will derail them from reaching the blessings God desires for them. He wishes he could see them all in person to counteract the persuasiveness of those attempting to lead them astray. He prays that they will be encouraged, unified in love, and gain all the riches God has planned according to the revelation of the mystery. “Know” is epignosis, experiential knowledge. In union with Christ, they will find all the treasure that come from wisdom and knowledge (Proverbs 8:8-21 - not ends in themselves, but means of obtaining treasure). Although absent physically, he was present in spirit as he thought of them. It's unlikely that he was somehow observing them via the Spirit, since he had heard about their state from Epaphras in 1:7. He rejoiced as he heard about their order/unity and steadfast unwavering faith in God's promises.
2:6-15 Paul warns them against a number of things which will disqualify them from the reward offered in the gospel. The elements of this world are defined as Jewish rituals and traditions in 2:16 and Galatians 4:3. So rather than being seduced by Judaizers, they should walk by faith in the revelation of Christ, which is just how they received Him (by faith). They were rooted and established by faith, and thus should bear fruit by faith (belief that God is who He said He is and will do what He said He'll do -reward those who diligently seek Him; cf. Hebrews 11:6). The point of being rooted is to bear fruit. In Christ they have been (perfect tense) liberally supplied with all they need. Many versions translate this word as totally complete, as if there is nothing else to do. “Complete” is a legitimate translation in some instances, and so is “liberally supplied” which far better fits this context. They don't need Judaism, because in Christ they have all they need to do God's will and please Him (and thus realize their hope of blessing). In their union with Christ they have been circumcised by the Spirit. Note the use of this concept in considering who is a Jew from the standpoint of the ones blessed by God in Romans 2.

Romans 2:28 “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.”

The Colossian believers were dead because of their sins, but in union with Christ, God forgave them on the basis of His death, and made them alive in union with Him. In Christ, they share in victory over and spoil (glory/authority/rule) of the powers of this Age. None of that occurs in Judaism, but only in Christ. He is all they need.

2:16-23 The believers should not pay attention to any of the Jewish condemnations for not following their rituals, including the Sabbath, which are a mere shadow of the coming reality which casts the shadow, the Body of Christ. Those who follow ritual rather than reality will lose their reward/inheritance. Those who delight in vanities, speculations, and subjective “revelations” have lost connection with the Head of the Body, Christ. Those who lose connection with Christ are not properly connected to other members either (a sure sign of a carnal Christian). Believers have died to this world by their union with Christ, so they should not subject themselves to the rules of it as if they were still “citizens” of this world. The external rituals emphasized by those without a real relationship with Christ might look pious and religious, but the proof of truth is in the fruit of righteousness. The Biblical measure of teaching is if it is valuable in restraining the indulgence of the desire for temporal things. Those who slosh about in the swamp of sin, living defeated rather than victorious Christian lives, are being robbed of their reward by false teaching. If a person practices external ritual, without an inner renewal, they will wind up seeking the gratification of temporal desires, rather than the pursuit of eternal delights. If a believer only seeks the things the worldings seek, they have not been exposed to, nor have embraced Biblical teaching.

Application: Those who are united with Christ by steadfast faith in all His revelation (which in the gospels was largely about living to be blessed in the Kingdom) will experience victory in this life and the spoils of that victory in the next.

Prayer: God, thanks that You have not only qualified me to share in the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of light, but in Christ give all that is necessary for me to live in victory and sure expectation of reward. Amen.

Digging Deeper

God in a nutshell: God offers forgiveness to those who exercise faith, as well grace, peace, victory and reward to those who please Him.

Build-a-Jesus: In Christ are all the treasures that result from wisdom and knowledge. In union with Him, believers have all they need to reap their reward.

Us in a nutshell: Believers motivated by the hope of reward held out in the gospel will live by faith, in union with Christ and other believers, and thus please God.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Colossians: Living the Christian Life after the Cross