Month of Thanksgiving - Day 7

帖後 2:13-17

13 主所愛的弟兄們哪，我們本該常為你們感謝神，因為他從起初揀選了你們，叫你們因信真道，又被聖靈感動成為聖潔，能以得救。 14 神藉我們所傳的福音召你們到這地步，好得著我們主耶穌基督的榮光。 15 所以弟兄們，你們要站立得穩，凡所領受的教訓，不拘是我們口傳的，是信上寫的，都要堅守。16 但願我們主耶穌基督和那愛我們、開恩將永遠的安慰並美好的盼望賜給我們的父神， 17 安慰你們的心，並且在一切善行善言上堅固你們！

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

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In today’s scripture, Paul gave thanks for the way that the people in Thessalonians by reviewing the stages in their salvation experience. He gave us a total spectrum of salvation - all the way from the past, the present, and down into the future.

• “brethren beloved by the Lord” - Whatever God does for you and me is rooted and grounded in His Love, which was proved at the cross where Jesus Christ died for the sins of you and I.
•  "God from the beginning chose you for salvation" - That looks back to the past. It simply means that you do not surprise God when you trust Christ. But there is another side of the coin: Jesus said, "...If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" (John 7:37). That is a legitimate offer of salvation. If you don't come, the reason is not because you are not elected. Not at all. The reason you don't come is that you're not thirsty; that is, you don't think you need a Savior. If you are thirsty, then come to Christ.
• "Through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth" - Sanctification looks to the present. You are sanctified both as to position and as to practice. When you accept Jesus Christ as your own Savior, you are in Christ -- that is positional sanctification; that is the past tense of salvation. Then there is also the practical side of sanctification which concerns your life. Through the Spirit of God and the Word of God, you are to grow and develop in grace.
•  "the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" - this is about the glorious, wonderful future which we have before us.

We have been loved, we have been saved, we are being saved, we shall be saved. It is all the work of God. Let’s give thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ, and our God and Father for the love, the grace, and the hope!