Thessalonica: Excel Still More Strands Of Strength – 2 Thes. 2:13-17

Man Of Lawlessness Is Real How do I stand strong against his influence? What tools has God provided us to help us remain strong throughout our lives? A cord of six strands!

Strand 1: The Love of the Lord 2 Thes. 2:13 – “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through the sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”

Ephesians 2:4-5 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)….”

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Strand 2: Election Through Gospel Verse 13 – “…because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation….”

1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 …knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction….”

Can We Be Misled? Matthew 24:24 – “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.”

2 Peter 1:10 “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble….”

Strand 3: Spirit Sanctification Vs. 13 – “…through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”

1 Corinthians 6:11 “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”

Strand 4 -- Glorification Verse 14 – “It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 8:29-30 “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”

Strand 5 – The Traditions Vs. 15 --So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.

So that we’re not tossed about… Ephesians 4:14 – “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming….”

Philippians 3:17 “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” 1 Corinthians 7:17 – “…And so I direct in all the churches.”

Strand 6 – Good Hope By Grace Taking them from “shaken” (vs. 2) to “stand firm” (vs. 15). Romans 8:24-25 – “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”