2 Thessalonians 3:14-15
“If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.”
Today’s passage, 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15, is the final bookend the Apostle Paul uses to warn believers to stay away from those who disregard Scripture. The first bookend, or rather, the first warning, is 2 Thessalonians 3:6, which says, “Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.” This verse gives Paul’s exhortation to believers to stay away from those who are idle and who do not heed the instructions, or traditions, that Paul gave the church. What is important here, Paul still refers to the disobedient as brothers. In the same way, today’s passage has similar instructions. Second Thessalonians 3:14-15 says, “If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.” In these verses, Paul wants the obedient believers in the church to mark those who do not obey Paul’s words. The obedient are to have nothing to do with them, so the disobedient may be ashamed. What is crucial and different in this passage, Paul instructs the obedient ones to not regard the disobedient as enemies but to treat them as a brother by giving them a warning. This is not condoning sin, but allowing grace to intervene, which we will discuss in our application.
This passage is significant and applicable to our lives as members of the body of Christ. In the church, every member is not on the same spiritual plane. For example, some may be mature beyond their years, due to God’s grace as they abide in Him and due to the teaching that the Holy Spirit has given them. Some may be new to the faith and they desperately need instruction from those who are more mature and gifted. And then, all the others in the church are on their own spiritual journey. Each one is guided by God’s divine providence and the progression of their sanctification. Each person is different. We all are on spiritual levels, but all grow in the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. Therefore, because some Christians may be weak in their faith and others are more mature, there will be times when some believers will misbehave. Paul is not telling the church to condone misbehavior, but he is giving the church a Scriptural way to handle the situation: mark those who ignore teaching and disobey, and stay away from them so they may be ashamed. This allows the Holy Spirit to convict them of sin. We are to love them as brothers, not as enemies. As we pray for them wholeheartedly with love for our erroring brothers, God will intervene and do the correcting. However, we must not condone sin by not addressing the issue. For example, we may know there is disobedience; so, let’s not say anything and maybe it will just go away. That does not work! Jesus gives us instructions on how to deal with those who offend in Matthew 18:15-20. Immediately following, Jesus gives us the parable of the unforgiven servant, which tells us to forgive brothers. When we follow Paul and Jesus Christ’s instructions on how to treat erroring brothers in the church, then the church’s purity is preserved, believers’ love and relationship for each other is still intact, and God receives the glory. May Jesus Christ be praised!
This passage presents the truth that each and every person who comes to faith in Christ, is on a journey to grow in faith and become more like Christ. This means we are to hate the very sin that stains our lives with the filth that displeases God. Our responsibility is to turn from our wicked ways and obey the instructions of the Lord our God. The Old Testament prophets repeated this message of truth and grace to Israel and Judah over and over again; yet, they did not repent. The prophet Jeremiah, for example, said in Jeremiah 26:2-3, “Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the Lord all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word. 3 It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may relent of the disaster that I intend to do to them because of their evil deeds.” We also need to heed the Holy Word of God found in Scripture. As children of God, we are spared from His divine wrath; nevertheless, we will be chastened and disciplined by our Father God (Hebrews 12:5-11).
For us, this is the Doctrine of Sanctification. My church’s Confession of Faith says in regard to this important doctrine, “We believe that Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of his holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means—especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer.”
The fascinating aspect of Paul showing grace to those who error, yet holding them responsible for the truth of God’s Word, is extremely important to the day-to-day operation of the church that Jesus Christ built. Church membership is not like having a membership at a gym for fitness, or a warehouse club membership for shopping. The church is for believers in Jesus Christ as their Lord God and Savior. Believers are accountable to abide in Christ, hold to His teachings as recorded in the Word of God, and love and support the church, as they grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. In this way, we as believers in Christ, “will be made partakers of His holiness.”
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My Lord and my God, Thank you for Your church. Thank You for placing us in our church so we can grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ as our Lord God and Savior. Thank You for Your instruction to us in Your Holy Word of God. Lord God, give us a desire to be obedient to all the teachings that You command. May we never be idle, but always be about Your business: loving God and others, and especially those in Your church, In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen!
Christian Hymn: Grace That is Greater Than All Our Sin by Julia H. Johnston in 1910:
