2 Thessalonians Series: Pursuing Spiritual Maturity (2 Thess 3:16-18)

Pursuing Spiritual Maturity

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, which is how I write in every letter. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

2 Thessalonians 3:16-18 (NET)

How can we pursue spiritual maturity—growth into Christ’s image? In 2 Thessalonians 1, Paul addressed the persecution the Thessalonians were enduring and assured them that Christ would judge their persecutors at his coming. He essentially appealed to their sense of justice and encouraged them to wait on the Lord patiently. In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul addressed the false teaching that had entered the church, which taught that Christ had already come or that they were in the final sequence of the day of the Lord. He sought to establish them in truth by teaching that the end would not come until the Antichrist came and the apostasy arrived. This seems to refer to the Antichrist deceiving the world into believing that he is god and persecuting those who will not follow him. This will lead to a great apostasy from all religions, including those who nominally profess Christ. In 2 Thessalonians 3, he addressed the undisciplined in the church who were not working but simply waiting for Christ to come. Paul had warned them in his previous letter (1 Thess 4:11-12, 5:14), and in 2 Thessalonians, he called for the Thessalonians to discipline the loafers by separating from them and no longer being generous to them. He said if one doesn’t work, neither should he eat. However, for the Thessalonians to be faithful amidst all of this, including persecution, false teaching, and relational difficulties, they needed God’s empowerment. Because of this, throughout 2 Thessalonians, after correcting and teaching them, he would burst out into prayer for their empowerment. For example, 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, after teaching about the persecutors judgment, he prays for God to make the Thessalonians worthy of God’s calling, fulfill their every desire for good and that Jesus would be glorified in them. In 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, after teaching about the false teachers and the end times, he prayed for God to encourage the Thessalonians’ hearts and strengthen them in every good thing they did or said. He continued this prayer in 2 Thessalonians 3:5, as he prayed for God to direct their hearts into God’s love and Christ’s endurance. They needed empowerment to be faithful to God’s Word and be delivered from various temptations. And, this is how he closes the letter in verses 16 and 18, after teaching on the loafers and the Thessalonians need to discipline them. Second Thessalonians 3:16 and 18 is the fourth and final prayer in the letter, and verse 17 affirms the letter’s truthfulness. Paul said:

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, which is how I write in every letter. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

No doubt, this prayer applies to all the letter and not just their difficulties with loafers which preceded it. It was a prayer for their empowerment to be faithful to the letter’s teachings and therefore to grow in spiritual maturity. ln these verses, we can discern essential aspects to maturing spiritually, which was Paul’s ultimate aim in writing and sending the letter to the Thessalonians. These are not comprehensive, but they are essential for spiritual growth and helping others grow as well.

Big Question: In 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18, what essentials for pursuing spiritual maturity can be discerned?

To Mature Spiritually, We Must Pursue God’s Peace in Every Circumstance

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

As mentioned, the Thessalonians were going through conflict from outside and conflict from within. They were being persecuted by outsiders, tormented by false teachers from within, and weighed down by loafers who would not work, were mooching off the members’ generosity, and were causing conflict by gossiping. The Thessalonians were not in a situation that was conducive to having emotional or relational peace. However, Scripture teaches that, as believers, our peace should not depend on our fluctuating circumstances but on a constant and right relationship with God. Because of inconsistency in their relationship with God, young believers are commonly up and down emotionally based on their circumstances. However, God desires believers to mature spiritually, in part, by finding peace in him. This is why Paul prays this for the Thessalonians, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way” (v 16). Again, this was not the absence of problems or conflict (for there were many), but peace, calmness of heart, and assurance of God’s care within them.

When Paul said, “the Lord of peace,” he was referring to Christ. This is the only time this exact phrase is used in the New Testament. The “God of peace” is the typical phrase which is used multiple times (Rom 15:33; 16:20, Phil 4:9, 1 Thess 5:23, Heb 13:20). It is from Christ that we have peace. In Isaiah 9:2, Christ is called our “prince of peace,” and in Ephesians 2:14, it says, “For he is our peace,” in describing how Christ brought peace to Jews and Gentiles together through his death. Also, before Christ went to the cross, he said this to his disciples in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage.” Christ came into the world, in part, to bring us peace relationally and emotionally. After the fall, when sin came into the world, a new word entered Adam’s vocabulary. He said to God, “I was afraid” (Gen 3:10). Now, we struggle with fears and anxieties about the past, present, future, and depression resulting from them (Prov 12:25). However, Christ, the second Adam, came to bring us peace in an unstable and at times scary world.

With that said, not only does Christ give us peace, but we also receive it from God the Father. As mentioned, the “God of peace” is the typical terminology Scripture uses. Romans 15:33 says, “Now may the God of peace be with all of you,” and Romans 16:20 says, “The God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet.” Obviously, it was God the Father who sent the Son to die for us, so we could have peace through him (John 3:16). Finally, it is also through the Holy Spirit that we gain peace. Galatians 5:22 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace”. Also, Romans 14:17 says, “For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” When we enter God’s kingdom at salvation, the Holy Spirit starts to work in us to grow in righteousness, joy, and peace. He seeks to mature us. For believers, we have peace, which comes through our relationship with the triune God (God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and to grow in spiritual maturity, we must aim to maintain this peace. Scripture, actually, commands this of us. In Colossians 3:15, Paul said, “Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful.” To “let” the peace of Christ be in control, we have a role to play.

Interpretation Question: What type(s) of peace is Paul praying for the Lord to give the Thessalonians?

As we consider our role in allowing the Lord of peace to give us peace, we must consider the types of peace Christ gives, and how we must pursue and maintain them.

1. First, through Christ, we have peace WITH God.

Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Because of Adam’s rebellion against God in the garden and our rebellion as well today, humans are enemies of God and under his wrath. We, innately, are antagonistic to God and his ways and, therefore, want to think and live our own way, apart from God. Romans 8:7-8 says, “because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” This is our nature as children of Adam. However, God, who is gracious and merciful, sent his Son to die for us so we could be reconciled with him and have peace. Romans 5:8 and 10 say this:

But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us… For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life?

When we respond to Christ’s work with repentance for our sins, faith in his death and resurrection, and commitment to follow him as Lord, God saves us and brings us into his family. The enmity between us is destroyed. However, it is important for us to always recognize and appropriate this new reality. This is important because the enemy of our souls, Satan, always comes to accuse and condemn God and us, in order to distance us. For example, when we sin against God and others, he condemns us. He tells us that we are not real Christians, that we are hypocrites, and that we should just give up. There is a big difference between the conviction the Holy Spirit brings when we sin and the condemnation Satan brings. The Holy Spirit convicts us so we can repent and turn back to following God and be reconciled with others. However, Satan condemns us so we will turn farther away from God and his people. Essentially, the steps are, Satan tempts a person to sin (declaring that he will feel good or that it is the wisest thing to do to avoid consequences), and then immediately after the person sins, Satan tells the person to feel bad. In fact, he should feel so bad that he doesn’t read his Bible or go to church because that would be hypocritical and insincere. In contrast, the Holy Spirit convicts us so we will run to God and reconcile with his people; while the enemy condemns us, so we will run away from God and his church. At times, Satan attacks the other way by condemning God, telling us he doesn’t love or care for us, or even that he doesn’t exist, so we’ll withdraw from that relationship. He also condemns other people to us, attacking their character and intentions. However, Satan’s accusations and condemnation are only lies we must recognize and reject. Satan cannot condemn us if God has already forgiven us for every sin and accepted us into his family. Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” In addition, God is perfect, loving, and sovereign. We should trust him and not accept any of the enemy’s lies about him. Therefore, to allow the Lord of peace to give us peace “at all times,” including the times that we have failed God (or we mistakenly feel he somehow wronged us), we must accept the peace Christ gave us with God and reject anything that tries to hinder it. We must “let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts” (Col 3:15) even though we feel guilty and condemned or struggle with doubts. As in the armor of God, we must put the footwear of peace on ourselves (Eph 6:15), which in part, refers to accepting and allowing the peace that Christ secured for us with God to rule in our hearts (Col 3:15). We also may need to use the shield of faith to extinguish Satan’s lies about God or us—believing what God says about himself and us (Eph 6:16).

Are we recognizing and appropriating the peace Christ gave us with God? He purchased this peace 2000 years ago. We are no longer under God’s condemnation for our sins, because Christ paid the penalty for our sins. The enemy of our souls lies to us because he wants us to live as though our past or recent failures have destroyed that peace and separated us from God’s grace. However, they haven’t because Christ died for even those sins, and if our salvation was based on works, we could never be good enough to have peace with God. Only Christ’s work is good enough. As mentioned, Satan also lies about God to make us doubt his love and goodness. To combat those lies, we must know God’s character, according to Scripture, and remember what he has done to secure our salvation, sacrificing his only Son.

With that said, though true believers are at peace with God, unbelievers also often think they are at peace with God. However, it is only a false peace—a peace based on an ignorance of their state before God and God’s supreme holiness. Most people believe they are relatively good, cause they have never killed anybody, and therefore, they think God will never judge them. But, Isaiah 64:6 says, “all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag” in God’s sight. God is so holy that even our best deeds are not good before him because he also looks at our hearts. To lust in our hearts is to commit adultery before him (Matt 5:28). Therefore, there can be no peace with God, apart from Christ. Isaiah 48:22 (NIV) says, “‘There is no peace,’ says the LORD, ‘for the wicked.’” In fact, Paul said this about nonbelievers in the end-times who think they are at peace in 1 Thessalonians 5:3: “Now when they are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape.” Instead of peace with God, there is only an eternal, fiery judgment from God for those who don’t repent of their sins and put their faith in Christ. John 3:36 says, “The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him.”

Again, when Paul prayed for the Lord of peace to give the Thessalonians peace, he was, in part, praying for their experience of peace with God—unity and reconciliation with him—which came through Christ at salvation. Satan always wants to hinder this experience through condemnation and accusation to separate us from God, whom power and further peace come from.

Are we accepting and rejoicing in our peace WITH God or accepting the lies and condemnation of the devil, especially when we fail God?

2. In addition to peace with God, through Christ, we have the peace OF God.

The peace of God, which is based on our peace with God, is a subjective experience of his peace regardless of our circumstances. Since peace is a part of God’s character, he is never anxious, worried, or fretful. Our failures don’t surprise him, and neither do the atrocities on the earth. He foreknows all things and is sovereign over the events on the earth. Therefore, he always has peace and desires for us to have it because we are his children. No good father wants his kids worrying about what they will eat, drink, or wear, and neither does God (cf. Matt 6:25-34). He wants us to have his peace because he is working all events, including bad ones, for our good (Rom 8:28). And while we await that good, including living eternally with him and serving him in the coming kingdom, he wants us to have his peace.

How do we gain and keep the peace of God, which comes through Christ? In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul said to the Philippians who were likewise going through trials:

Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

If the Philippians chose to respond to their unfortunate circumstances with prayer (probably referring to worship in context), thanksgiving, and petitions in every situation, instead of anxiety, worry, and complaining, God would give them supernatural peace to guard their hearts. Therefore, we maintain the peace of God by living in an atmosphere of worship, thanksgiving, and intercessory prayer. When we do so, God promises to give us his peace, instead of the natural tendency we have towards worry and fear, which we get from our father, Adam. Furthermore, to maintain God’s peace, we also must practice righteousness and stay away from sin. Sin disrupts our experience of God’s peace. As mentioned, Isaiah 48:22 (NIV) says, “‘There is no peace,’ says the LORD, ‘for the wicked.’” Also, in Psalm 66:18, the Psalmist said: “If I had harbored sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Likewise, in Matthew 6:15, Christ said, “But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.” Unforgiveness, along with other sins, hinders our relationship with God, and therefore, our experience of his peace. To add to this, in Psalm 32:3-5, David said this:

When I refused to confess my sin, my whole body wasted away, while I groaned in pain all day long. For day and night you tormented me; you tried to destroy me in the intense heat of summer. (Selah) Then I confessed my sin; I no longer covered up my wrongdoing. I said, “I will confess my rebellious acts to the Lord.” And then you forgave my sins. (Selah)

His rebellion brought physical sickness and emotional distress as God disciplined David for living in rebellion against God. However, when he repented, he experienced God’s forgiveness and peace. First John 1:9 says, “But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.”

Therefore, when Paul prays for the Lord of peace to give the Thessalonians peace, in part, he was praying for them to experience not only peace with God but also the peace of God, regardless of circumstances, which comes from living in worship, thanksgiving, intercessory prayer, and obedience to God’s Word. The practice of sin, including cultivating wrong thoughts and attitudes, robs us of the peace God wants us to have. Again, in Colossians 3:15, Paul said we should aim to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. It’s Christ’s gift to us, and we must seek to maintain it, so fear, anxiety, and sin won’t rule our hearts and lives.

Are we seeking to maintain the peace OF God in our hearts by living in worship, prayer, and righteousness and turning away from sin? God wants us to have his peace, regardless of our circumstances.

3. Finally, Christ also gives us peace with others.

When sin came into the world, it not only brought enmity with God but also enmity with people. After the fall, Adam and Eve, who lived in perfect peace, hid from one another, and as a result of the curse, would try to dominate each other. In Genesis 3:16, God told Eve, “You will want to control your husband, but he will dominate you.” However, this conflict at home would affect all aspects of society. There would be enmity between siblings, cousins, neighbors, classmates, coworkers, and nations. The world knows no time without war and serious conflict. However, according to 1 John 3:8, Christ came “to destroy the works of the devil,” including conflict with people. As mentioned, in Ephesians 2:14-16, Paul said this about the relationship between Gentiles and Jews, which had always been characterized by enmity:

For he is our peace, the one who made both groups into one and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility, when he nullified in his flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace, and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which the hostility has been killed.

Christ came to bring reconciliation between people. With that said, this reconciliation is not at any cost. There can’t be peace with a bully if he is still gossiping and lying (cf. Ps 85:10). The gossiping and lying must stop, and then there must be forgiveness from the person being sinned against. Christ came to change the hearts of all people, for those sinning against others and those being sinned against. And as he does this, he brings relational peace. In fact, this should be how believers, those who have experienced Christ’s peace, live. Matthew 5:9 says this about them, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.” Christ was describing those who are part of his kingdom. If we are saved and have experienced Christ’s peace (with God, within ourselves, and with others), we should seek peace with those who hurt us and seek to bring peace between others in conflict. We should be peacemakers! As peacemakers, we should share the gospel so unbelievers can be reconciled with God. Also, in Matthew 5:43-48, Christ said this about how we treat those who hurt us:

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they? So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Finally, as peacemakers, we should also be seeking to help others who are in conflict reconcile. In Ephesians 4:3, Paul said that the Ephesians should be “making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Again, according to Christ in Matthew 5:9, it’s the peacemakers in this world who are God’s children. It should mark us as believers, seeking to bring peace. Again, not at any expense, there cannot be peace without righteousness. The unbeliever has to repent of sin to be saved and be at peace with God, and the same is true for a bully who is hurting others. Therefore, to be peacemakers, we must be willing to challenge those in sin to do what’s right, so there can be peace.

As we consider living at peace with others and helping bring peace to others as a mark of spiritual maturity, this means we can discern our maturity level (and others) by our relationships. Therefore, we should ask ourselves: Are our relationships marked by unforgiveness and bitterness everywhere we go (family, church, school, and work)? Or are we loving, forgiving, and seeking reconciliation with others? Are we also seeking to help others reconcile? Those who are demonstrate that the Lord of peace is sanctifying them.

To mature spiritually, we must allow the Lord to give us peace in every circumstance. That’s what Paul prayed for the Thessalonians who were having attacks from outside and within. To have Christ’s peace, we must reckon our peace WITH God and not accept the condemnation or accusations of the devil. We must pursue the peace OF God by rejecting anxiety and fear and instead living in worship, thanksgiving, supplication, and obedience. Finally, we must pursue peace by reconciling with others and helping others reconcile. Peace is a mark of one growing in spiritual maturity, while conflict and discord are a mark of the immature. Paul said this about the immature Corinthian believers in 1 Corinthians 3:3, “For since there is still jealousy and dissension among you, are you not influenced by the flesh and behaving like unregenerate people?”

Are we allowing the Lord of peace to give us peace (with God, ourselves, and others)? Are we pursuing his peace? It’s a mark of growing in spiritual maturity.

Application Question: What is the difference between condemnation and conviction? How is God calling you to better appropriate your peace with God through Christ and reject the condemnation and accusations of the devil (cf. Rom 5:1, 8:1)? In what ways do you struggle with maintaining the peace of God, regardless of your circumstances? What are typical things that threaten your peace? How is God calling you to let Christ’s peace rule in your heart? Why is being a peacemaker a mark of spiritual maturity and being in conflict a mark of spiritual immaturity? Why is being a peacemaker so difficult? How is God calling you to be a better peacemaker?

To Mature Spiritually, We Must Pursue God’s Presence and Empowerment Daily

…The Lord be with you all.

2 Thessalonians 3:16b

Interpretation Question: What specifically was Paul praying for when he said, “The Lord be with you all” (2 Thess 3:16)?

When Paul prayed, “The Lord be with you all,” for the Thessalonians, he was not denying Christ’s omnipresence—that God is everywhere present at all times—nor was he denying Christ’s promise to always be with believers. In Matthew 28:20, after giving the disciples the great commission, Christ said: “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” What then was Paul praying for? He seems to be praying for the Thessalonians to always experience, not only God’s peace but his manifest presence and empowerment. Though God was always present everywhere and at all times in the Old Testament, there were times when his presence was manifest to deepen his relationship with his people, to give them comfort, strength, or even direction. For example, God met with Moses in a fiery bush to call him to leadership. God’s presence guided Israel in the wilderness through a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. God was present with Joseph in Potiphar’s house and while in prison to empower him, and God met with Elijah on a mountain in a small voice to encourage and direct him. Likewise, God wants to meet with us in special ways for our encouragement and empowerment. In fact, in Philippians 4:8-9, after teaching the Philippians to not be anxious but to live in prayer so they could experience God’s peace (Phil 4:6-7), Paul said:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.

If the Philippians thought about what was righteous and practiced righteousness instead of thinking ungodly, impure thoughts, and practicing evil, God’s manifest presence and empowerment would be with them. Since the Philippians were being persecuted, experiencing false teaching, and division like the Thessalonians, Paul, no doubt, referred to God’s manifest presence in the sense of encouraging and empowering them to faithfully follow the Lord.

Likewise, there may be some similarities with Paul’s prayer for the Lord to be with the Thessalonians in 2 Thessalonians 3:16 and God’s command for the Ephesians to be “filled with the Spirit” in Ephesians 5:18. It says, “And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit already fully abides in us, as we are his temple (1 Cor 6:19), and therefore, we cannot get more of him than we already have. However, Paul was referring to the Holy Spirit manifesting his presence in our lives to empower and lead us. Though we have the Holy Spirit and God inside of us, practically, they often have very little of us because of our neglect of them and sin, and therefore, they can’t empower us the way they would like. Their presence is manifest in special ways when we are faithfully following the Lord and turning away from sin.

As a further example of the God of peace manifesting himself in our lives when we are thinking about what’s right and practicing righteousness, Matthew 18:20 says this happens when we gather with other believers to worship and obey him: “For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.” This is given in the context of church discipline (Matt 18:15-17), but it certainly applies to any time we gather in God’s name to honor and obey him. Psalm 22:3 (KJV) says God inhabits the praises of his people. When believers worship and praise God, God will commonly manifest his presence to comfort, encourage, and strengthen them. We saw this with Solomon’s dedication of the temple with singing and sacrifices. As they did so, God’s manifest presence came down to fill the temple (2 Chr 7). Likewise, as we faithfully study God’s Word, obey it, teach it, worship him, and serve others, he will commonly manifest himself to us in special ways. In addition, as we go through trials and are faithful to him, he promises to be present to strengthen and comfort us. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Also, in 2 Timothy 4:16-17, Paul said this:

At my first defense no one appeared in my support; instead they all deserted me—may they not be held accountable for it. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed for all the Gentiles to hear. And so I was delivered from the lion’s mouth!

When defending himself in the Roman court, Paul felt God’s presence with him to rid him of fear and empower him to preach the gospel. Likewise, being in God’s presence and experiencing his empowerment should be a normal and constant experience that believers seek. This means if thinking about specific things hinder our experience and empowerment of God, we should reject them, including ungodly TV shows, music, and relationships, because we desperately desire his presence and empowerment. When God told Moses that Israel would go to the promised land and conquer it but that his presence would not go with them (Ex 33:3), Moses replied, “If your presence does not go with us, do not take us up from here” (Ex 33:14). Moses didn’t want to go if God’s manifest presence wasn’t going to be with them. Likewise, as we mature in God, we should desperately want to live in his presence and reject anything that hinders that (including thought processes or actions). While the immature often forfeit their experience of God’s presence and empowerment for their entertainment, relationships, and career aspirations, those maturing in Christ know the cost is not worth it. They would rather be in no other place than in God’s presence, so they daily pursue it. In Psalm 84:10, the Psalmist said it this way: “Certainly spending just one day in your temple courts is better than spending a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the entrance to the temple of my God than live in the tents of the wicked.”

Are we pursuing God’s presence and empowerment by guarding our minds, putting only godly content in, and practicing only righteousness (Phil 4:8-9)? To leave the house in the morning without being in the Word and prayer will hinder our experience of God’s presence. To live in conflict with a family member or brother and sister in Christ (as far as our role in the conflict) will hinder our experience of God’s presence. Again, in Matthew 6:15, Christ said if we don’t forgive others, God will not forgive us. Pursuing God’s presence and empowerment daily by living righteously is a mark of those who are maturing spiritually, while forfeiting God’s presence for lesser pleasures, including laziness, busyness, or conflict, is a mark of the immature. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” This is a promise we can hold onto as we pursue God.

Are we pursuing God’s presence and empowerment?

Application Question: In what times, activities, or seasons have you experienced God’s manifest presence most? In what ways are you regularly tempted to forfeit the experience of God’s presence? How is God calling you to pursue intimacy with him and therefore empowerment in a greater way to live the Christian life (cf. Phil 4:8-9, Jam 4:8)?

To Mature Spiritually, We Must Pursue Knowledge of God’s Word, Obedience to it, and Discernment from It

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, which is how I write in every letter.

2 Thessalonians 3:17

Interpretation Question: Why did Paul specify that he wrote the greeting with his own hand (2 Thess 3:17)?

In 2 Thessalonians 3:17, when Paul said that he wrote the greeting with his own hand, that was his way of authenticating the letter. Apparently, somebody else wrote the letter, possibly Timothy, and he just wrote the ending. It seems that Paul commonly used an amanuensis when writing his epistles and then simply wrote the conclusion. For example, with the book of Romans, a man named Tertius wrote the letter. Romans 16:22 says, “I, Tertius, who am writing this letter, greet you in the Lord.” Also, in Colossians 4:18, he likewise authenticated the letter in its conclusion when he wrote, “I, Paul, write this greeting by my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.”

Paul’s authentication of 2 Thessalonians was very important, especially, since the Thessalonians were dealing with a possible forged Pauline letter which taught that Christ had already come or would come imminently. In 2 Thessalonians 2:2, Paul countered this by saying, “not to be easily shaken from your composure or disturbed by any kind of spirit or message or letter allegedly from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here” and by teaching right doctrine in the letter. The false teachers probably not only wrote a false letter to trick the Thessalonians but also taught that 1 Thessalonians was a forgery, since it contradicted their teachings on Christ’s coming. The Thessalonians needed to be able to know what was God’s Word, so they could test all other teachings against it and obey what it said. That’s why Paul interrupted his benediction in verses 16 and 18 to confirm that the writing was actually his and therefore Scripture in verse 17.

Likewise, for believers to mature in Christ, we must know God’s Word so we can test all things by it as well. It’s because Scripture teaches that murder is wrong and that a baby being formed in the womb is a person to God that we believe abortion is a sin (Ex 20:13, Ps 139:13-14, Jer 1:5). Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.” It’s because Scripture teaches that marriage is between a man and a woman and that it’s the only place where sex should happen, that we reject homosexuality, adultery, and all sexual immorality (Gen 2:24, 1 Cor 6:16, 18). Genesis 2:24 (ESV) says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” If the one flesh symbol isn’t clear enough, 1 Corinthians 6:16 says, “Or do you not know that anyone who is united with a prostitute is one body with her? For it is said, ‘The two will become one flesh.’” God meant for only a man and woman to be one flesh in marriage. It’s the only relationship where sex should happen, where people become one flesh. If we don’t know Scripture, we can’t discern truth and error. In 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, Paul said: “But examine all things; hold fast to what is good. Stay away from every form of evil.” In 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV), he likewise said, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” To mature in Christ, we must study God’s Word so we can rightly obey it, teach it, and reject what is false. It is because the church has God’s Word in a lost world, that we are called the pillar and foundation of truth. In 1 Timothy 3:14-15, Paul said this to Timothy:

Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

Scripture is our only compass in a confused and lost world, and because the church is the guardian and teacher of Scripture, it is the pillar and foundation of the truth in society, even when truth is rejected.

In fact, God’s Word is not only the way that believers discern and teach what is true and practice righteousness, but our relationship to God’s Word also identifies whether we are true believers at all. In John 8:31-32, Christ said, “If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Also, in Matthew 7:24-27, Christ described how true believers are the ones who hear and practice God’s Word. They are the ones who are building their house on the rock, and when the storm of judgment comes, it will stand. However, for those who just listen to God’s Word but do not obey it, they are building on the sand and when the storm of judgment comes, it will prove they were never truly saved. Christ will say to them, “‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!” (Matt 7:23).

Are we abiding in God’s Word, seeking to know it, obey it, share it, and test everything by it? It’s the only way that we can grow, test what is true, and even discern the authenticity of our faith.

When Paul authenticated 2 Thessalonians at the end of the letter, he was confirming that it was true and Scripture, so the Thessalonians could obey what’s true and be protected from what’s false. Believers today who do not faithfully study God’s Word are vulnerable to every wave of false teaching, religious or secular, and if they build on what’s false, they will be found to have built their spiritual house on sand, which will ultimately be destroyed when Christ comes.

Are we building our house on God’s Word? That’s the only foundation that will stand. As we study God’s Word, it helps us grow spiritually. In John 17:17, Christ prayed for this when he said, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” In 2 Peter 2:2, Peter encouraged the same thing when he commanded the believers to: “yearn like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation.” As we crave God’s Word, we’ll read it, study it, obey it, teach it, and test everything by it, so we’ll grow spiritually. That was Paul’s desire when he confirmed that 2 Thessalonians was in fact God’s Word. He desired that the Thessalonians would then yearn for it, study it, obey it, teach it, reject what’s false by it, and consequently grow in their faith. Are we pursuing the knowledge of God’s Word, so we can obey it and reject what’s false by it? This is how we mature spiritually.

Application Question: Why is it so important to faithfully study God’s Word? What are your major distractions from faithfully studying it? What practices have you found most helpful in seeking to faithfully study, understand, and obey God’s Word? How can believers better test everything against Scripture, including religious and secular teachings? How is God calling you to more faithfully study and obey God’s Word in this season so you can grow spiritually?

To Mature Spiritually, We Must Pursue More of God’s Grace and Share It with Others

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

2 Thessalonians 3:18

Interpretation Question: By praying for the Lord’s grace to be with the Thessalonians, what was Paul asking for and why (2 Thess 3:18)?

In verse 18, Paul prays for God’s grace to be with the Thessalonians. In fact, in 2 Thessalonians 1:2, he began the letter asking for God’s grace and peace to be with the Thessalonians (which, if we count it as a prayer, means that Paul gave five prayers in 2 Thessalonians). A petition for grace was a common way for Paul to begin and end his letters (cf. 1 Tim 1:2, 6:21, 2 Tim 1:2, 4:22). Grace means God’s unmerited favor towards us. We are saved by grace and sanctified by it. In 1 Corinthians 5:10, Paul said this about himself: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been in vain. In fact, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” Paul needed God’s grace to not only be saved but also to faithfully serve the Lord as an apostle, and the Thessalonians needed God’s grace, his unmerited favor, to stand and not quit while experiencing persecution, false teachers, and difficult members in their church. We all need God’s grace both to be saved and to continue to grow in our faith, as we navigate various difficulties in life.

Accessing God’s Grace

How do we continue to access God’s grace? As Paul said, it comes through our Lord Jesus Christ (v. 18). In John 1:16 (ESV), John said this about Christ: “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” We receive grace for salvation through Christ, but also all the benefits of salvation, including our sanctification, as we continually draw near him. Through our relationship with Christ, we keep receiving grace upon grace. Accepting Christ as our Savior is not the end of grace; it is just the beginning. Grace upon grace is ours in Christ. Therefore, to experience more grace, we must depend on Christ more. In John 15:4, Christ said, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.” If a branch is not attached to the vine, it shrivels up and dies. All the nutrients come from the vine and its root system to the branch. Likewise, by daily cultivating our personal relationship with Christ and being attached to him, we receive further grace to bear fruit—growing in our sanctification. This fruit includes knowing Christ more in a deeper relationship. It also includes the development of inner graces like love for our enemy, joy in difficult circumstances, patience with people and while waiting on God, and self-control of our mind, will, and emotions. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” The fruit from abiding in Christ also includes outer graces, including works that God does through us for others, as we disciple believers, witness to the lost, and care for those with needs around us. All this grace comes through our personal relationship with Christ.

James 4:6 says it this way, “But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.’” Instead of abiding in Christ, the prideful are independent. They do not daily rely on Christ by being in his Word, prayer, and fellowship. They don’t feel like they need it, so they don’t. But, the consequence is they lack the grace to properly grow and produce fruit that blesses others. Because of this, God will commonly humble them, often through trials, to show their need to depend on God, so they draw near him and can receive more grace. However, with the humble who already desperately depend on Christ and obey him, he abundantly gives them grace.

Are we remaining in Christ and therefore receiving further sanctifying grace from him? Consider more verses that describe the grace that comes through Christ:

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.

2 Peter 3:18

So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 2:1

Now may the Lord direct your hearts toward the love of God and the endurance of Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:5

As we depend on Christ and pursue him daily, not only should more grace overflow into our lives, but it also should overflow into the lives of others. Through Christ, we should help others be strong in the Lord, find encouragement, be delivered from sin, and walk in their callings in Christ. Christ gives us grace not to be an end but a means to the blessings of others. Like God said to Abraham, God blesses us so we can bless others. Are we seeking the Lord for grace for ourselves, but also grace to give to others? This is one of the reasons God gives us grace and when we share it with others, he gives more to us. For example, in 2 Corinthians 9:8, Paul described the extra grace God gives to those who obey him by being generous givers. He said, “And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work.” All grace is given to provide for the givers’ needs and make them excel in good works—including understanding and teaching God’s Word, discipling believers, reaching the lost, and other good works. To those who are faithful, obedient to Christ, and share God’s grace with others, God gives them more grace to continue to grow and excel in their sanctification. (be careful how we

A Warning

It's the same with faithfulling listening to God’s Word and therefore obeying it and sharing it with others. When we do, God gives us more of his Word and thus more more grace. In Mark 424-25, Christ said this to his disciples,

And he said to them, “Take care about what you hear. The measure you use will be the measure you receive, and more will be added to you. For whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”

For those who continually hear each Sunday at church and in a Christian household, when they are unfaithful with it, it can actually harden their hearts, as it did with Israel (cf. Is 6:9-10, Matt 13:11-15). The grace of God becomes in vain to them. They experience a taking away of what they had already received. Unfortunatetly, this is the sin of pastors, pastors’ wives, PKs (pastor’s kids), and MKs (missionary kids). Often they are recipients of much grace from God’s Word, but because they are unfaithful with it, it actually hardens their hearts instead of softening it. Unlike Paul, they can’t say, “his grace to me has not been in vain. In fact, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God with me” (1 Cor 15:10). Instead of working hard to change or serve, they just become casual listeners, which leads to God taking grace away instead of pouring more out in abundance. Are we being faithful with the grace God has given us, through his Word, finances, relationships, etc.? To receive grace means we must be faithful with it. Grace is how God saves us and how he grows us, but we must be faithful with it.

Again, grace ultimately comes through Christ as Paul prayed, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all” (v. 18). This is why grace is a fitting beginning and conclusion to the letter. Grace should encompass all of our lives. It was grace that allowed us to hear and respond to the gospel and be saved, including if we were raised in Christian homes. It was grace that empowered us to conquer various sins and to continue to follow the Lord. It was grace that carried us through various dark seasons in our life and with our family. It was grace that allowed us to serve and bless others. And it is grace through Christ which will continue to do so, and one day will carry us home. And because of this, we should desire and pray for more grace. James 4:6 says, “But he gives greater grace…”

Are we allowing the Lord of peace to continue to give us grace? It comes as we humbly depend on him through prayer, study of God’s Word, fellowship with the saints, and serving others. As we abide in Christ, we grow in spiritual maturity—looking more like him. It also comes as we faithfully use the grace given to us (whether through generously giving finances, joyfully studying and submitting to God’s, serving and receiving from others, repenting of sin, or praying fervantly), when we are faithful with God’s grace, he gives us more. Again, John 1:16 (ESV) says this about Christ: “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” May we all experience continual grace upon grace to grow in Christ.

Application Question: What is grace? Why is it important for our salvation and sanctification? In what ways does God pour out grace on us through our relationship with Christ (cf. Gal 5:22-23, 2 Cor 9:8, 2 Thess 3:5, Lk 8:18)? What are hindrances to our receiving more grace through Christ? In what ways can a person or church receive God’s grace in vain, as Paul alluded to in 1 Corinthians 15:10? How is God calling you to pursue more grace through Christ in your current circumstance and better share that grace with others?

Conclusion

How can we grow in spiritual maturity?

1. To Mature Spiritually, We Must Pursue God’s Peace in Every Circumstance

2. To Mature Spiritually, We Must Pursue God’s Presence and Empowerment Daily

3. To Mature Spiritually, We Must Pursue Knowledge of God’s Word, Obedience to it, and Discernment from It

4. To Mature Spiritually, We Must Pursue More of God’s Grace and Share It with Others

Application Question: What aspect of the text or sermon stood out most and why?

Prayer Prompts

• Pray for God to give us, and other believers, supernatural peace and that it would rule in our hearts.

• Pray for God to deliver us from anxiety and fear which lead to depression.

• Pray for God to manifest his presence in our lives and empower us to better serve our family, church, community, nation, and the world.

• Pray for God to live and work through us.

• Pray for God to draw us to his Word, give us greater understanding of it, faith in it, grace to obey it, and ability to effectively share it with others.

• Pray for God to lavishly pour out his grace, his unmerited favor, on our family, church, nation, and the world, so we would be delivered from sin and Satan and experience more of his love, peace, and righteousness.

• Pray that we would not receive God’s grace in vain, but that we would work hard and faithfully with it to glorify God and bless his people.