The righteous

Only A Sinner Can Be Saved

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And as Jesus passed forth from thence, He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and He saith unto him, “Follow me.” And he arose, and followed Him.   And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.  And when the Pharisees saw it, they said untoHis disciples, “Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?”  But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them,
“They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.  But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Matthew 9:9-13

Jesus had just called one of the most hated people in Judea  who was a tax collector, to follow Him, and Matthew did.  This brought many to Matthew’s home where  He age and drank.  It was a great honor for them to have such a Man as Jesus visit your home

Jesus was eating with publicans (tax collectors), and sinners.  Jesus in answer to the Pharisees remark was that He did not come to call  the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Only the lost can be found.  Only the unjust, can be made just.  Only the sick can be healed.

The Pharisees were walking around in their religious garb, and presenting themselves as righteous people but Jesus tells them they are in darkness.

Only those who call on the Lord for grace through Christ Jesus can be justified, sanctified, and glorified in Him.

“There is none righteous, no not one.”  Psalm 14:3;  Romans 3:10ff).   As long as a person denies their sin  and rebelliousness against  God, trusting their own righteousness, there is no hope of salvation.

Confess that you are a sinner calling out to the Lord Jesus, then confess Jesus as Lord, believing He was raised from the dead, and you will be saved.

Warn the Wicked and the Righteous

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And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at My mouth, and give them warning from Me.  When I say unto the wicked, ‘Thou shalt surely die;’ and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.  Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.  Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.  Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
Ezekiel 3:16-21

Who are the “Wicked”?  The wicked are those people who have rejected God’s love, mercy, and grace and have chosen to go their own way snubbing their nose at God.

Who are the “Righteous”?  The righteous are those who believe in God, believe His word.  In their daily lives they endeavor to do what is right, and to shun what is wrong. The righteous can be those who they have done no wrong, yet they claim something that can come only from God’s grace

The child of God who has been clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ; we have no righteousness of our own.

Ezekiel is told by GOD that he is a Watchman for the wicked, and the righteous.  The watchman is to sound the alarm of an approaching enemy.  When the watchman is on duty he is responsible for every individual for that city, home, or nation.

As the pastor of a small country church I have a responsibility of warning the man or woman who has turned their backs on God, gone their own way, and ignoring the One who loves them, and snubbing the LORD God.

As a pastor to the congregation I also have the responsibility of warning those in the church of their sins, and the consequences of their transgressions.

Remember that Jesus became sin for us,  He was put to death on the cross taking the full fury of God’s wrath in our behalf.  The great thing about His death, is that He was buried taking our sins away, and was victorious in His atonement for us, because in His resurrection He proved every word He speaks in His word is  true.  In His death He gave us (those who called on His name) His Righteousness.  We are not  perfect or without sin, but we have been forgiven all our sins – past, present, and future sins are forgiven.

Every Christian, any follower of Jesus Christ, has a responsibility to warn the wicked, and the righteous.  It must be done in love, mercy, and grace and not condemnation.  Should we fail to warn the wicked and/or the righteous, and they do not turn from their sin to God; then we will be guilty of their blood.

The LORD’S Countenance Beholds The Upright

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In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain?”  For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
The LORD is in His holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men.
The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence His soul hateth. Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.  For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; His countenance doth behold the upright.

Psalm 11:1-7

There is none who are righteous, so there is none who are upright;  except One.

That One is the ever living Son of God who paid the price for our sin.  The costs of our sin is death, and in the death of Jesus Christ the Righteous One, He became sin for us; He became our unrighteousness, so that we  might become the righteousness of God.

How can that be?  The holy, righteous, sinless, Son of God was born as a babe in a manger, so that He became flesh, like we are, yet without sin; because He was God Incarnated and cannot sin. Yet, when He was nailed to that cross He was everything that God hated, and the Father poured out all His wrath on our sin, the wrath that should have been mine and yours.

We are saved by grace through faith in the gift of the cross, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  So we must call on His name by faith in Him, confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believing that Jesus was raised from the dead we will be saved.  Being made the righteousness of God, we shall see the countenance or the face of God.

Treacherous Friends, and The Caring LORD

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He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.  But Thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in Thee.

Psalm 55:20-23

Sometimes you cannot count on trusting your friends; but God cares for you and me.  The apostle  Peter by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit has said, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7).

Friends cannot always be counted upon; but God loves you and me so much that He sent His only begotten Son to pay our debt of sin by becoming sin for us, and dying for us.  All He ask of us to to call on His name by faith, turning from our sin to Him, believing Him forever.

Judge Of All The Earth

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And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.  And Abraham drew near, and said, “Wilt Thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?  Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt Thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?  That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from Thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”  And the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”
Genesis 18:22-26

Of course, the Judge of all the earth will do right. He can do no wrong. He knows how to deliver the righteous from the judgment of the unrighteous.

All who come to God through the cross of Jesus Christ, shall be cleansed, forgiven, and given the righteousness of Christ.

A Burning Fire

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O LORD, Thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: Thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.  For since I spake, I cried out, I cried “Violence and spoil;” because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.  Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name.” But His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.  For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. “Report, and we will report it.” All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, “Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.” But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten. But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see Thy vengeance on them: for unto Thee have I opened my cause.
Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for He hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.

Jeremiah 20:7-13

Discern Between The Righteous And The Wicked

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Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name. And “They shall be Mine,” saith the LORD of hosts, “in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not.
Malachi 3:16-18

It Shall Be Well With Them That Fear God

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All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt. And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.
Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: but it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.
There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity. Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.
When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:) then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.
Ecclesiastes 8:9-17

Sinners Are Called To Repentance

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And after these things He went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and He said unto him,
“Follow Me.”
And he left all, rose up, and followed Him.  And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.  But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against His disciples, saying, “Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?”  And Jesus answering said unto them,
“They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Luke 5:27-32

The Wicked and the Upright

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An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

Proverbs 11:9-11

Encouragement For The LORD’S Righteous

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The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence His soul hateth.
Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: the portion of their cup.
For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; His countenance doth behold the upright.
Psalm 11:5-7

Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.  For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
Proverbs 3:25-26

Righteousness and Wickedness

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Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not Thyself from my supplication. Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise; because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
Psalm 55:1-3

Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
Proverbs 11:4-6

The Wicked, The Righteous, and Wisdom

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For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not His saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
Psalm 37:28-31

WORDS FROM WISDOM: “Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.  All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.  They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.”
Proverbs 8:6-9

The Blessing of the Upright

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If he said thus, “The speckled shall be thy wages;” then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, “The ringstraked shall be thy hire;” then bare all the cattle ringstraked.  Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.
Genesis 31:8-9

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 55:22

When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
Proverbs 11:10-11

People and Jesus

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Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.  Psalm 55:22

But Jesus withdrew Himself with His disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judaea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things He did, came unto Him. And He spake to His disciples, that a small ship should wait on Him because of the multitude, lest they should throng Him.
For He had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon Him for to touch Him, as many as had plagues. And unclean spirits, when they saw Him, fell down before Him, and cried, saying, “Thou art the Son of God.”  And He straitly charged them that they should not make Him known.  Mark 3:7-12

There were many people who had heard of Jesus, and His great works of ministry; healing the sick, lame walk, blind see, even raising some from the dead. Though they saw these mighty things, and some of those experienced them does not mean they believed Him, becoming His followers.

We of Adam’s race love excitement. If it is not for personal entertainment, it is for selfish reasons, such in the above case; personal healing. It is growing in the realm of Christianity that we are drawn to where “Things are happening” and it does not matter if the word of God is being proclaimed or not. If it is proclaimed it is too often ignored, not heard, and God is not glorified.

In this day and age we ought to live to point others to Jesus Christ. Living in this world and living this life is not about you or me. For the Believer, the follower of Christ, it is solely about Him.

We live in a “Me too” culture, which makes it all about “Me”. This life is about Him. He was sent by the Father to die on the cross for our sins, was buried carrying our sins away, and He rose bodily from the grave justifying forever those who believe Him.

I believe Him. How about you? If you have not done so, now is the time to call out to Him in repentance and faith. He will hear and He will save you.

Only Sinners Can Be Saved

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Many religions place importance on doing something to gain God’s favor. Let me at the beginning just say; there is nothing you or I can do to gain God’s favor. There is no sacrifice, there is no sacrament, there is no good deed to your neighbor or the world which will gain you or me eternal life and/or the favor of Holy God.

This very mentality is what Jesus is addressing in the following verses:

“And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto His disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them,
They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ ” Matthew 9:10-13 (KJV)

When Jesus was ministering to the publicans (tax collectors) and sinners the religious leaders began questioning Jesus’s purpose, power, and ministry. “What kind of man would sit with tax collectors and sinners?” they were asking themselves, and the disciples.

There is only one sacrifice which God the Father accepts; and that is the sacrifice, the death of His only begotten Son. Still the religious; the self-righteous try to gain the favor; the grace; of God through sacrifice and sacrament.

God shows grace and mercy to the sinner who will come to Him through the cross of His Son Jesus with a repentant heart. Through the act of repentance on the part of the sinner, trusting Christ Jesus, God clothes the sinner in the righteousness of God the Son.

You may be a righteous person today. You cannot be saved. Until you see yourself as the sinner your really are you will remain lost, condemned, dying, guilty, and spiritually dead.

Come to the Father through the cross of Jesus. Sinner hear Him and be saved. He came to save the sinner.

The Rejects of Society

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“And as Jesus passed forth from thence, He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and He saith unto him,
‘Follow Me.’
And he arose, and followed Him. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples,
‘Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?’
But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them,
‘They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ ” Matthew 9:9-13

I am so grateful to the Lord for His bountiful love, mercy, and grace. He accepts those who are rejected by the elite, the powerful, and the popular, and saves all those who will come to Him and follow Him. I am grateful for that because I am one of those rejects of society.

The religious elite would not accept these tax collectors and sinners into their midst, but Jesus did. Jesus still does. He did not come to save those who are secure in themselves and their power and prestige. He came to save those who need Him. He came to save the sin sick, the lost, the dying the hurting.

If you fit into the category of one who is sin sick, lost, dying and hurting then there is forgiveness, there is healing, there is resurrection for you by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross for your sins, our sins, and He was buried, and He rose again.

Will you call on the name of the Lord Jesus today?

The Safe Place

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“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. ‘  Proverbs 18:10

“And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.’ And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.”  Acts 9:17-18

Let us always remember the safe place for anyone to be is in the name of the LORD, trusting Him, and growing in His love, mercy, grace, and His correction as well.

Remember the tormentor Saul sought to destroy the safe place of the LORD, which is in the name of the LORD, and he had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, and bowed before Him. When Saul had met the LORD and humbled himself before Him he was filled with the Holy Spirit and the LORD used him mightily for the glory of His name. Let us pray to do likewise in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let me tell you that Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God died on the cross for your sins, He was buried, and He rose again to justify forever those who will call on His name. If you will call on Him today, right now, He will hear you and will give you eternal life.

Prayer for the Righteous

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“It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.”  Proverbs 18:5
“Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38

Lord God of heaven and earth, Creator of all that is; of the seen and the unseen, praise You the All Glorious and Awesome GOD. There is none like You. There is no God, but You. You are holy, holy, holy.

I pray that the wicked shall fail in all their wicked plans, devices and schemes; and I ask that the righteous always prevail because their righteousness; our righteousness is Your righteousness. May the righteous always stand for righteousness and deal fairly with one another.

Help me to be strong in the faith of Jesus Christ through this day. Fill me with Your Spirit so that, no matter what comes; whether sickness, peril, persecution or pain I will stand boldly, courageously and faithfully for the name of Jesus. I ask that for all my brothers and sisters in Christ as well. I also ask that the wicked who attack the righteous be rightly judged by You and Your power, because they have rejected Your Son Jesus, Your Spirit and Your word. Be glorified. Amen.

To The Almighty GOD…

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“The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.”  Proverbs 14:32
“And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but some doubted.”  Matthew 28:17

Father, I praise You. I worship You because of Your love, mercy and grace You have shown through Your Son Jesus the Christ who died on the cross for the sins of the world, was buried carrying away all our sin, its darkness, pain, shame and despair, and all our condemnation; then He rose bodily from that grave justifying forever all who come to Him. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Lord, give me wisdom concerning the peril of the wicked. I pray that I might see the wicked will be judged by their own wickedness, and by Your Just ways and word. For those who have been clothed in the Righteousness of Jesus Christ we have hope in death of Your presence and glory with You. Forgive our sins, O God, and renew a right spirit in us. There is much darkness in this world right now; I pray that we shall be a bright light reflecting the holy Light of Christ our Lord. For in Him is no darkness at all.

I pray, O Lord, for renewed strength today of faith. Continued growing faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Doubters will turn away, unless they will come to believe.

Turn our hearts, O Lord, away from being filled with the world, the flesh and the devil and fill us with Your Spirit that we may walk with You and glorify Your holy name.

I also ask, Lord, that You would plow the soils of the hearts of men, women, boys and girls who do not know You; that I will be faithful to sow the seed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that You will give the harvest. Bless the name of the Lord. Amen.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-17

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To give assurance of deliverance from the “Day of the Lord” [which is a day or darkness]; and that we should not be troubled by the trials we go through.

INTRODUCTION:
Just how are we to know when the “Great Tribulation” or “The time of Jacob’s trouble” begins? There are some distinguishing signs which show us. There are some who teach that the Church will go through the ‘tribulation’. If so, why did Paul write verses one and two of this chapter? There were teachers [false teachers] teaching that the Church would go through this time of trouble, even then, and were even saying they were already in it. Not only was their teaching bad enough, but they were signing (forging) Paul’s name to the letters saying this was his teaching.
In this chapter Paul tells how we can know, and if the lost would pay attention, even how they can recognize the “Day of the Lord”. There must be something that begins the “Time of sorrow”. Paul says there will first of all be a great apostasy [falling way]. This will happen among many who profess Christ as Savior, but have only joined a club (Church membership). There has never been any relationship with Christ, no joy of salvation, no hope for life, and no exciting expectation of Jesus Christ return. The falling away will occur – I believe – because the Church will endure a time of purification [persecution] and the reprobate Church members will flee from the fire.
Of course there is not much need for the Church to know, because the “Day of the Lord” will begin the day Jesus calls out to us from the clouds (the heavens), “Come up here.” If you know the Lord Jesus as your personal Savior you need not fear the “Day of the Lord”.

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 (KJV)

There is going to be a gathering of the Church. It is stated quite clearly in verse one.
The Church was clearly troubled. They had been troubled by false teachers, and false letters from those teachers, by forging Paul’s name. In doing so they were confusing the people in the Church, and hoping to gain something for themselves. These teachers, and letters were telling the people that the “Day of the Lord” had already come, and they were living in it.
This false message contradicted what Paul was teaching. Paul’s clear teaching, and the Bible’s teaching is that the “Day of the Lord” is a time of great trouble, sorrow on the earth. The day is marked by a sudden disappearance of a certain group of people – namely the Church. Those fundamental, Bible believing, Jesus worshiping, “Blessed hope” watching, born again people will be taken out of the way in order for the progressive way of thought to prevail, and lawlessness to have its way.
The word of “Christ” in verse two is literally the “Day of the Lord.” Though Paul is not saying it was at hand, but that the false teachers were saying it.

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” vv. 3-4

This letter was written partly to warn them against the deceivers. Deceivers have a way of robbing people of their hope, joy and peace. Do not let anyone deceive you.
The “Day of the Lord” is not the “Rapture of the Church”. “The day of the Lord” will not begin until after the rapture, or the “Catching away of the Church”; the “falling way” apostasy (which could occur before the rapture) due to persecution; and the revealing of the “Man of sin” (or Anti-christ) which will follow the rapture.
The apostasy is a rebellion against all that is godly. It will even involve professing Christians who do not know Jesus. They are Christians only because their parents were, or they were “Born in a Christian home”; not due to the new birth in Christ Jesus. These will see Jesus as any other religious leader. This christianity to them is only a religion of choice just as the others. Being a Christian is in fact a personal relationship into which one is called in – chosen by God; the Living God, and it is the only way to eternal life in Heaven.
The apostasy is in affect a militant uprising against all that is pure and for all things that are against God, Jesus and His Church. There is even today, an attempt to silence the Church and the Word of God; especially in the public forum; private owner businesses, and in political debate.
There is also, “the man of sin”, also called the “Son of perdition” who will be revealed, probably, very near to either side of the rapture. Jesus mentions “The son of perdition” in John 17:12. He was in the person of Judas Iscariot the betrayer. This man who will come on the scene will exalt himself, call himself “God”, and will sit in the temple of God – this in the city of Jerusalem. This man will be revealed as the Evil one when he breaks his covenant with Israel three and one half years into the tribulation period. His first introduction will be as a man of peace, and seeming ability to end world economic, religious, and environmental problems (See Revelation 6:1-2). He will be a world ruler.

“Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?” v. 5

These were things Paul had spoken to them about when he was with them. This is only a gentle nudge to call to remembrance what they had heard.

“And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He who now letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way.” vv. 6-7

It is not yet time for the “Son of perdition” to be revealed. Really, only God knows when that time will be. When God removes the restraints, then and only then can this deceiver who is also the “Anti-christ” have a free hand.
That raises a question. Who or what is the restraint? Whoever or whatever it is must be the greatest power in all the Universe. He is like the wind; unseen, but you can hear Him at work; you can feel Him touch the cheeks of your soul; you hear His still, small, sweet voice, and you can see His effects upon the lives of people. It is a Person who is restraining. Yes! It is the Person of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God.
There is already, and has been since the garden of Eden; the working of iniquity. When the presence and power of the Holy Spirit is gone iniquity will have a free hand for a while. The Holy Spirit is present and powerful in the Church which is being sanctified by Him for the glory of Christ Jesus. Since Jesus said, “I will not leave you Comfortless” (John 14:18), then He will not leave the Church here without His Spirit (the Comforter). The restraining of the Holy Spirit will continue until the Church is stolen away from this earth, “As a thief in the night.”

“And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming…” v. 8

After the Spirit of God is removed with the Church, the son of perdition the Antichrist, who is the devil incarnate (counterfeiting what Jesus did), will be revealed.
Notice, though, Paul’s encouraging words, “…Whom the Lord will consume…” (See Revelation 1:16; 19:11-21). This, of course, will take place after he deceives the people of the earth; the ones who had rejected the truth of the Lord Jesus.
Out of the Lord’s mouth comes a sharp two-edged sword. The two-edged sword is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). The “Breath of His mouth” referring to the work of the Spirit and the Word. The glory of the Lord is His brightness at His coming.

“…Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” vv. 9-10

The son of perdition will come in the power of Satan. Remember Satan is only a created being, a creature. He will use signs, and miracles to deceive the nations (Revelation 13:13-14). These “Miracles” will have the influence to deceive only “Those who are perishing”. These are people who will have heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but had no use for God, His Spirit, or His Word. They are people who are independent of God, and depend solely on themselves.

“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” vv. 11-12

Because they refuse to love the truth God will cause them to believe the lie. Even today when someone hears the message of the gospel, and rejects it just one time; his/her heart will grow a little harder toward the gospel. Each time they hear and reject it the chances of their being saved grows weaker. To say again: That is so even in this day of grace.
God can at any point in the Christ rejecters life harden the heart. When God hardens the heart it is late, very late for saving grace, and very near to judgment. Do not harden your heart. Believe and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior before it is too late.
This seems – in its context – to apply to those who have rejected “the truth” after the requirement of the “Mark”. Only those receiving the “Mark”, ie. rejecting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will receive this “Strong delusion” believing “the lie”.
These are also those who, “Had pleasure in unrighteousness” (See Romans 1:18-32). They worshiped and served the creature [self] rather than the Creator.

“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: whereunto He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” vv. 13-14

We should all be thankful for God choosing us for salvaation – if indeed we have been chosen. How we are chosen, just as all believers are: 1.) Set apart by the work of the Spirit; and 2.) Believing the truth.
It is done by the gospel, and for the purpose of obtaining the glory of Jesus.
These messages to the Thessalonians are as much a part of the gospel as the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Receive, and believe the whole gospel or perish.

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.” vv. 15-17

“Stand fast” or do not be shaken from – do not be moved from your stand of faith.
“Hold the traditions” is not speaking of religious man made traditions, but truths of God’s Word. Paul is here saying to pass along what I have written to you as being from God – it is Scripture. Pass in on from your generation to the next generation, and on to the next, and the next.
Man made tradition most often goes against the Spirit’s intent of Scripture, and we are to shun those. Many times though we want to hold to these and forsake the Scriptural tradition. God forbid.
There is comfort in heeding the Word of God. We find comfort in His grace, knowing that in Him we have everlasting life.
Our lives are to be established in good words and works; established in God and His grace.
Are your works done to glorify Jesus, and to reflect His image to a condemned, dying, and lost world? Does the lost world look at you and me and see comfort peace, or fear and torment?
May the words of this hymn be also our lives:
“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.”
May the lost, condemned world see Christ, and His love, peace, joy, and all the fruit of the Spirit of God in us and know that something is missing in their hearts and lives…
The “Day of the Lord” is not for those who believe, but for those who do not believe. In this is comfort. Believe!

The Wisdom Of The Righteous

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“The righteous wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.”  Proverbs 21:12  (KJB)

“The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked; he throws the wicked down to ruin.” (ESV)

The Rejoicing and Exalted City

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“When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.”  Proverbs 11:10-11  (KJB)

He Preserves The Way Of His Saints

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“For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of His saints.”  Proverbs 2:6-8  (KJB)