Lesson 12 · June 20, 1903
Chosen of God
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(13) But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (14) whereunto He called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (15) So then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word, or by epistle of ours.
(16) Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, (17) comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
(1) Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also it is with you; (2) and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men: for all have not faith. (3) But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and guard you from the evil one. (4) And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command. (5) And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ.
Questions.
- 1.What did the apostle always feel bound to do? Why? To what were they chosen? In what? .
- 2.Through what did He call them? Unto the obtaining of what did He call them? .
- 3.In view of these assurances, what should believers do? To what were they to hold? . Note 1.
- 4.What feeling have Christ and the Father toward Their children? What have They given us? Through what? In what will They establish and comfort us? . Note 2.
- 5.What is one of the final exhortations the apostle makes? Why does he wish the prayers of the brethren? Chapter 3, . Note 3.
- 6.From whom did he wish to be delivered? What reason does he give? .
- 7.What witness does he bear to the Lord? What will the Lord do for His people? .
- 8.What confidence had the apostle in the brethren? What prayer did he make for them? .
Notes
1. "Stand fast and hold." Stand fast for service; hold faithful to the orders. The word "tradition" does not mean a body of laws or instructions handed down from generation to generation, with no other authority behind it than age and what men have said. The word is used in its literal meaning, "delivery, handing over; what is transmitted, intrusted to." By word or epistle, Paul committed or intrusted to the Thessalonians the word of the gospel. It was their duty to hold it to the end.
2. There is no difference in the disposition, attitude, and feeling toward us of the Father and the Son. Both love us. Both give us eternal comfort and good hope. Both do it through grace, unmerited favor. Both will comfort and establish in every good word or work. But in Their love to us They must permit the unrest and instability when our work is of self and evil.
3. "Pray" not simply for ourselves, but for the servants of God; "pray" that God's Word may go freely, swiftly, mightily, and be glorified by fruit; "pray" that other souls may be searched out and saved, even as it searched you out. Thus does God speak to all His children. Thus will His Spirit lead us to do.
Bible texts in this lesson
2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 · 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 · 2 Thessalonians 3:13 · 2 Thessalonians 3:14 · 2 Thessalonians 3:15 · 2 Thessalonians 3:16 · 2 Thessalonians 3:17 · 2 Thessalonians 3:1 · 2 Thessalonians 3:2 · 2 Thessalonians 3:3 · 2 Thessalonians 3:4 · 2 Thessalonians 3:5
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