Because the
Thessalonian church members were “chosen” “to
salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the
truth” and “called” by Paul and his companions'
“gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus
Christ”, Paul encouraged them to “stand fast, and hold the
traditions” which had been “taught” to them “whether
by word, or by” Paul's letter. In chapter two and verse sixteen
of this second letter from Paul to the Thessalonians, Paul shares how
the “Lord Jesus” has given “us everlasting
consolation and good hope” where we read:
Now
our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which has
loved us, and has given us
everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
The
verse begins, “Now our Lord Jesus
Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which has loved us,...”
Paul began
with the word, “Now”
which means “but, moreover, also, and” “our
Lord”
which means “he to whom a person or
thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the
title given to God, the Messiah” “Jesus”
whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son of God,
the Savior of mankind and God incarnate”
“Christ himself” which means “the
anointed one” and is “the Messiah and Son of God himself” “and
God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily
and trinity comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy
Spirit” “even our Father”
or “generator or male ancestor who is the originator and
transmitter of anything” “which has loved
us” which is the Greek word “agapaō”
and
means “is well pleased, contented at or with, fond of and
unconditionally loved toward Paul, his companions and the
Thessalonians”. Paul's preliminary benedictory phrase included the
fact that the “Lord Jesus”
and “God our Father”
greatly loves both those who are writing this epistle and the ones to
whom he is writing it.
The verse goes on to say, “...and
has given us
everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,” Paul
continued, “and has given”
or “granted,
supplied, furnished and delivered” “us”
which refers to Paul, his companions and the
Thessalonian church members “everlasting”
which means “without beginning and end, and
that which has always been and always will be” “consolation”
or “a calling near, summons, exhortation, admonition,
encouragement, comfort and solace” “and
good hope” which means “useful, salutary,
pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy, excellent, distinguished, upright
and honorable expectation of eternal salvation” “through
grace” which is “that which affords joy,
pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness, good will, merciful
kindness and unmerited favor”. Not only has “the
Lord Jesus” and “God
our Father” loved us, but also has
“granted” and “supplied” to us “a calling near and summons”
that is eternal and an “excellent expectation” of eternal
salvation.
When
we think through these words of Paul, we find ourselves amazed that
God would love us, never mind grant unto us the “eternal hope”
of being with Him. Paul desired for the Thessalonians to be watchful
of those who would attempt to persuade them otherwise, and he assured
them of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ's love and promise
of eternal life. Only by His “grace” or “unmerited
favor” is anyone given these great gifts. May all who read these
words give thanks unto God for His marvelous favor, and may we
constantly keep the idea of living with Him eternally as our
motivation for serving Him today.
Next
time we finish the second chapter of this letter as see Paul tell the
Thessalonians his desire for God to “comfort” their “hearts”
and “establish”
them “in every good work”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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