HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD LIKE A MARRIAGE?

II Thessalonians 2:13-17 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

I. God Loves You. But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

A. How did God demonstrate His love? By having Jesus die on the cross! John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. I. God Loves You.

1. This was an historical event! I. God Loves You.

2. Jesus paid the price for your sin opening the door for a relationship with God. Romans 5:6-8 - You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will any one die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. I. God Loves You.

B. This is like the boy loving the girl & demonstrating his love for her. I. God Loves You.

II. God Chose You. But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

A. Here is a translation problem. II. God Chose You.

1. What made early manuscripts hard to read? II. God Chose You.

1. What made early manuscripts hard to read? IPLEDGEALLEGIANCETOTHEFLAGO FTHEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICAAN DTOTHEREPUBLICFORWHICHITSTA NDSONENATIONUNDERGODINDIVISI BLEWITHLIBERTYANDJUSTICEFOR ALL II. God Chose You.

1. What made early manuscripts hard to read? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL II. God Chose You.

2. The problem here. = from the beginning. ἀ π αρχή = from the beginning.... from the beginning God chose you - v13 II. God Chose You.

2. The problem here. = from the beginning. ἀ π αρχή = from the beginning.... from the beginning God chose you - v13 = firstfruits. ἀ παρχή = firstfruits. God chose you as His firstfruits - v13 II. God Chose You.

B. God chose you to be saved. II. God Chose You.

B. God chose you to be saved. 1. God’s part = the Holy Spirit sanctifying you. II. God Chose You.

B. God chose you to be saved. 1. God’s part = the Holy Spirit sanctifying you. 2. Your part = having faith in the truth. II. God Chose You.

C. This is like the boy choosing the girl by proposing to her. II. God Chose You.

I. God Loves You. II. God Chose You. III. God Calls You. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. - v14

A. How does God call? III. God Calls You.

A. How does God call? 1. Dying on the cross to pay for your sin. III. God Calls You.

A. How does God call? 1. Dying on the cross to pay for your sin. 2. Providing the gospel message for you to respond to. III. God Calls You.

B. What is the purpose of this call? III. God Calls You.

B. What is the purpose of this call? 1. So you could obtain His inheritance. I Peter 1:3-4 - In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you. III. God Calls You.

B. What is the purpose of this call? 1. So you could obtain His inheritance. 2. So you can be joint heirs with Christ. Romans 8:17 - Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. III. God Calls You.

C. This is like the boy calling the girl by the wedding ceremony. III. God Calls You.

C. This is like the boy calling the girl by the wedding ceremony. 1. God formally calls you through the gospel. III. God Calls You.

C. This is like the boy calling the girl by the wedding ceremony. 1. God formally calls you through the gospel. 2. You say, “I do” when you obey the gospel by being baptized. III. God Calls You.

I. God Loves You. II. God Chose You. III. God Calls You. IV. But You Need to Remain Faithful to That Call. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. - v15

A. You do this by standing firm & holding to these teachings. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. - v15 III. But You Need to Remain Faithful to That Call.

A. You do this by standing firm & holding to these teachings. 1. Imperative mood = these are commands. III. But You Need to Remain Faithful to That Call.

A. You do this by standing firm & holding to these teachings. 1. Imperative mood = these are commands. 2. Present tense = they are to be done continually. III. But You Need to Remain Faithful to That Call.

B. The source of these teachings is the New Testament. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. - v15 III. But You Need to Remain Faithful to That Call.

C. Just as both people in a marriage must remain faithful, so you need to be faithful to this salvation relationship to be successful. III. But You Need to Remain Faithful to That Call.

God loves you Demonstrated by the cross. God chose you Demonstrated by the gospel message. God calls you Demonstrated by Christian baptism. Remain faithful by learning & obeying.