I & II Thessalonians
Preparing for the Second Coming
What is the Deluding Influence?
Estrategia pedagógica
The focus of this lesson is on the nature of God’s will and how it accommodates man’s will in relation to his ability to choose or reject salvation. Of special note in this lesson is the importance of being and remaining prepared for the second coming of our Lord.
Resultados del aprendizaje de los estudiantes
- Know: Summarize Paul’s teachings on the second coming of Christ from Thessalonians.
- Feel: Defend the importance of remaining ready for the return of Christ.
- Do: Remain ready for Jesus’ return by faithful living.
Cuerpo de la lección
Preguntas de discusión
A continuación se sugieren preguntas para utilizar durante la parte de debate guiado de la lección. También se sugieren respuestas a las preguntas para ayudar a los alumnos a comprender los distintos conceptos. Se proporcionan para ayudar al debate y no se consideran respuestas "correctas o incorrectas".
The apostasy and the appearance of the Man of Lawlessness. There may be various reasons why but Paul wanted to offer the young Christians in Thessalonica assurance that our Lord has not already come. He further wanted to overcome their concern about what would happen to those Christians who have died or will die before the Lord returns.
There are two sides to God's will:
- God's direct will – God's direct will includes His will for good things to happen. Creation, man's salvation and the recording and preservation of His word are examples. God wills these good things to happen. God's will also includes negative things such as judgment and punishment. God directly willed the flood, plagues and other nations to punish Israel as examples of this. God uses negative things to accomplish His justice and purposes.
- God's permissive will – There is God's permissive positive will. This is seen when men look to do things that obey God's directives and bring Him the glory. Our evangelistic efforts, studying to learn more and sharing what we learn from God's word are examples of this. God permits us to make decisions on how we carry out His will. God's permissive negative will includes things God permits but are not blessings in themselves. Satan's influence is an example. God did not devise the devils schemes but allows them and the negative consequences that are a result.
Paul is using this concept to offer encouragement to the Christians in Thessalonica as well as ourselves today as we continue to live in a world surrounded with evil.
He states two key factors:
They have been chosen for salvation (vs. 13) – This is not the false teaching of predestination in an arbitrary sense. Paul explains that God chooses for Himself those who are being sanctified by the Holy Spirit because of their obedient faith. This includes all who will obey. As we continue in faithfulness we are transformed by the Holy Spirit. Note, we do not transform ourselves but change as we submit more our wills to the will of the Spirit.
Their salvation was sure (vs. 14) – As we grow spiritually we come to grow in our assurance of salvation that will culminate with the return of our Lord. Young Christians naturally wonder about their salvation or do not have a strong conviction about it. As we grow, so does our conviction. This assurance and conviction help us to stand firm in our faith, resist temptation and become confident that God will fulfill His promises.
Answers as to what it means will vary.
- He loves (vs. 13) – God is motivated by love.
- He chooses (vs. 13) – God chose to save all who would obey Him. He chooses to reward them with an eternal relationship with Him.
- He calls (vs. 14) – God intentionally calls everyone to glory through the gospel.
- He saves (vs. 13) – God wills all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) This is the ultimate purpose of His revealed will.
- He glorifies (vs. 14) – All who respond to Him he makes glorious like His Son.
It is God's will to save us but must be our will to be saved. Do we reject, refuse or ignore His call? Refusing to obey the gospel is to refuse the Holy Spirit's call.
God offers us salvation but gives us the choice to obey or reject it. Our role is to trust and obey. When we do, we grow in comfort and strength enabling us to continue to grow in faithfulness. This forms a positive spiritual growth pattern that continually brings us closer to God.