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Objective

In this lesson, we’ll discover how the promise of Christ’s return should shape how we live today, motivating us to be faithful while we wait for His coming.

Key Verse

2 Thessalonians 3:3: But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

Introduction

The two letters Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church focus on one of the most hope-filled truths in all of Scripture—the second coming of Jesus Christ. These letters remind us that our Savior, who came once to die for our sins, will come again to take us home to be with Him forever.

Paul ministered to the Thessalonians during his second missionary journey. I encourage you to pause right now and read Acts 17:1-9 about Paul’s ministry to the Thessalonians. You’ll see that Paul’s time in Thessalonica was brief but powerful. He preached in their synagogue for three Sabbaths, and many people believed the gospel. However, opposition from jealous religious leaders forced Paul to leave the city sooner than he had planned.

Even though Paul had to leave quickly, the truth he had planted in their hearts took deep root. The Thessalonian believers faced persecution for their faith, but they remained strong. When Paul couldn’t return to visit them personally, he sent Timothy to encourage them and find out how they were doing. Timothy brought back a wonderful report that the Thessalonians were standing firm in their faith despite the trials they faced.

Paul’s heart was filled with joy when he heard this news, but he also realized that these young believers needed more instruction. They had questions about the second coming of Christ, and some false teachers were confusing them with wrong ideas about when Jesus would return. So Paul wrote these two letters to encourage them, correct their misunderstandings, and help them live faithfully while they waited for Christ’s return.

In this lesson, we’ll explore how Paul addressed three main themes that run through both letters:

• Correcting false teaching about the second coming
• Exhorting believers to be diligent in their Christian walk
• Comforting them with hope as they waited for Christ

The Message of 1 Thessalonians

The structure of 1 Thessalonians itself shows us how central the second coming was to Paul’s message. Each chapter in this letter ends with a reminder about Christ’s return. In chapter 1, Paul speaks about waiting for God’s Son from heaven. In chapter 2, he mentions the crown of rejoicing when Jesus comes. Chapter 3 talks about being blameless when Christ appears. Chapter 4 describes being caught up to meet the Lord in the air. And chapter 5 concludes with being preserved blameless until Christ’s coming.

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10: They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

In chapter 1, Paul reminds the Thessalonians of their remarkable conversion. These verses give us a perfect summary of what happens when anyone comes to Christ. First, we must turn from sin in repentance. Second, we must turn to Christ by faith. And third, we begin to wait eagerly for His return. (Notebook Moment: How has your understanding of Christ’s return changed since you first became a believer? In what ways does this promise affect how you live day by day?)

Chapter 2 contains one of the most beautiful descriptions of Christian ministry in all of Paul’s letters. Paul reminds the Thessalonians of how he had ministered among them, demonstrating seven important qualities that should characterize all who serve God: boldness in proclaiming truth, sincerity in their motives, humility rather than seeking glory, gentleness like a nursing mother, dedication that shares not only the gospel but their very lives, consistency in working to support themselves, and godliness that provides a worthy example.

1 Thessalonians 2:12-13: We exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

Paul emphasizes that the message he preached came from God, not from human wisdom. This divine authority gave power to his words and transformed lives. When we teach and share God’s truth today, we can have the same confidence that God’s Word accomplishes His purposes.

In chapter 3, Paul speaks about the comfort we can have even in the midst of suffering. He had sent Timothy to encourage the Thessalonians and to find out how they were handling the persecution they faced. When Timothy returned with good news about their faithfulness, Paul was filled with joy and thanksgiving.

1 Thessalonians 3:6-8: But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you—for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.

Chapter 4 contains some of the most important teaching about holy living in the New Testament. Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to continue growing in their faith and to live lives that honor God. He reminds them that their behavior is a testimony to the watching world.

1 Thessalonians 4:1: Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.

The reason we should live godly lives becomes clear in the second half of chapter 4—Christ is coming back! This truth should motivate us to live with eternity in mind. Paul addresses the concerns of those whose loved ones had died, explaining that death is not the end for believers.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14: But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

Paul teaches that when Christ returns, the dead in Christ will rise first, then living believers will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. This wonderful truth should comfort our hearts when we face the sorrow of losing loved ones who knew Jesus.

In chapter 5, Paul continues teaching about the second coming, focusing on “the day of the Lord”—the period of tribulation that will come upon the world after the church is taken to heaven. This judgment will come suddenly, like a thief in the night, but believers will be spared from God’s wrath.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11: For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

The Message of 2 Thessalonians

Paul probably wrote his second letter very soon after the first one, emphasizing many of the same themes but addressing new concerns that had arisen. Some of the Thessalonians had become anxious and fearful, misunderstanding Paul’s teaching about Christ’s return.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2: Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

These believers had misunderstood Paul’s message. Some thought Christ was coming back so immediately that they stopped working and became idle. Others were worried that they had missed the rapture and were already experiencing God’s judgment. Paul corrects these errors with patient teaching. (Notebook Moment: How can we distinguish between healthy anticipation of Christ’s return and unhealthy anxiety about end-times events? What balance should we maintain in our daily lives?)

Paul reminds them that before the day of the Lord comes, there will be a great falling away from faith, and the Antichrist will be revealed. This man of lawlessness will exalt himself and demand worship, but Christ will ultimately destroy him at His coming.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4: Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

Since these things had not yet happened, Paul reminds the believers to be faithful and diligent while they wait. They should not become anxious or idle, but should continue serving God with steadfast hearts.

2 Thessalonians 2:15-17: So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

In chapter 3, Paul addresses the practical problem of believers who had stopped working. Some were using the expectation of Christ’s return as an excuse for laziness and were becoming a burden to others.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12: For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

The promise of Christ’s return should make us more diligent, not less. We should work faithfully and live responsibly while we wait for His coming.

Conclusion

As we study these two letters together, we see that Paul consistently emphasized three themes that should characterize our lives as we wait for Christ’s return.

First, we must guard against false teaching about the second coming. Many people today, just like in Paul’s time, have wrong ideas about when and how Christ will return. We need to study God’s Word carefully and hold fast to biblical truth, not being swayed by every new theory or sensational prediction.

Second, we should be diligent in our Christian walk. The hope of Christ’s return should motivate us to live holy, productive lives that honor God. We shouldn’t become lazy or withdraw from our responsibilities, but should work faithfully and serve others with love. (Notebook Moment: In what specific ways could the reality of Christ’s return change how you approach your daily responsibilities and relationships this week?)

Third, we can find comfort and hope as we wait for Christ. When we face trials, persecution, or the loss of loved ones, the promise of Christ’s return sustains us. We know that our present sufferings are temporary, but our future glory with Christ is eternal.

The God who called the Thessalonians to faith is the same God who calls us today. He is faithful to establish us and guard us from evil as we wait for His Son’s return. Let us live each day with the joyful expectation that Christ could come at any moment, while also being faithful in the work He has given us to do. Whether He comes today or delays His coming for years, we can trust in His perfect timing and rest in His unfailing love.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24: Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

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