2 Thessalonians 3:16-18
Benediction
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
As we finish our study in 2 Thessalonians, we’ve been challenged to yield to the encouragement of the Holy Scripture in all circumstances of our lives, for God’s providence is sure and purposeful to grow us in the knowledge and character of our Lord Jesus Christ. In particular, we were instructed to find encouragement in Paul’s proclamation of the ‘end times’ events: the ‘Second Coming of Jesus,’ the ‘Return of the Lord.’ and the ‘Final Judgment of the Wicked.’ In light of these instructions, we saw how some new Christians came to an error in their understanding of these events. They were young and immature in their faith and convinced the return of Christ was within hours, days, weeks, or even months. Therefore they did not work as they waited on the Lord’s return. This caused problems for the church; these believers were dependent on others for sustenance, causing the world to take notice of this buffoonery. Sometimes we are to walk by faith as those saints recorded in Hebrews 11. Otherwise, when Scripture teaches, we are called to obedience. Paul gave the believers instructions on how to correct and discipline the disobedient, not as enemies, but as brothers.
Today’s passage is the Apostle Paul’s closing benediction to the church in Thessalonica. Three things that Paul wishes the Thessalonians will remember and take with them: the Lord’s peace, presence, and grace. May we also be eager to take these blessings with us as well!
The first blessing is that the Lord of peace may be gracious and bless them with His peace, at all times and in every way (2 Thessalonians 3:16). Since the Thessalonians were under great persecution, Paul’s pronouncement of peace was important to these believers. Paul was their spiritual father; and as a father, he intimately called them brothers in his encouragement as he dealt with them gingerly in his commendations and instructions. Because of Paul’s love for them, he sent Timothy, a great man of God, to be with them and encourage then with sound doctrinal teaching because of errors that have crepted in. In addition, Paul wrote two letters that are encouraging with theological doctrine applicable to believers then and now. And now in Paul’s benediction, he prays that God bless them with peace during all their trials and afflictions. Notice, however, Paul did not pray for the prosecution to stop, giving them a life free of pain and suffering. For Paul knows how afflictions are used for God’s glory and for our joy (Romans 8:17-34, 1 Peter 4:12-19, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Matthew 5:10-12, and Luke 9:22-25, as a few examples). Like the Thessalonians, we also must persevere under our trials of affliction to bring glory to God. And in doing so, may we also pray for the peace of Christ. Philippians 4:4-6 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” So may we receive the Lord’s peace, and may we be content in God’s divine providence in our life which He always plans for our good. Jeremiah Burroughs, a puritan preacher in the late 1600s said, “Certainly, those who mourn for sin as the object of their mourning — their own sins and others’ — are blessed indeed and they shall be comforted” (Voices from the Past, v. 2, p. 288). This is the sweet peace, the gift of God’s love!
Paul’s second exhortation of blessing is for the presence of the Lord to be with them (2 Thessalonians 3:16). In our walk with God, we need the presence of God always. May we never be like Adam and Eve, who when they sinned, were estranged from God and were afraid because they heard Him walking in the garden. Instead, we must be completely devoted to the instructions in the book of Hebrews, which says in Hebrews 12:1-2, “… let us also lay aside every weight, and the sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder, and perfecter of our faith …” This exhortation implicitly teaches a doctrinal truth, the Doctrine of the Preseverence of the Saints. Our Confession of Faith says in regards to this teaching, “We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.” Our God will preserve and protect His own as The Good Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep who are safe in the fold, to go out and find the one sheep that wandered astray (Matthew 18:10-14, Luke 15:3-7). Praise You, Lord Jesus! We are to remain in Him, abide in Him, and heed to Jude’s instructions in Jude 1:20-23, which says, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” May Jesus Christ be always with us as we abide and remain in Him!
The final blessing by Paul to the Thessalonians, is for the grace of the Lord to be with them (2 Thessalonians 3:18). This is Paul’s normal way for him to close his benedictions in all his letters to the churches. Paul opens each book with a prayer that God’s grace be to them; such that, as they read the Word, the Holy Spirit by God’s grace may open their hearts and their minds to the truth of God’s Word. Then, in his concluding benediction, Paul prays that God’s grace be with them as they go out and put into practice all God has said. In this way, the believers are not just hearers of the Word of God only, but doers also (James 1:22-25). God’s will is for us to read, believe, trust, and obey.
><> ><> TESTIMONY AND PRAYER FOR MYSELF <>< <><
This study in First and Second Thessalonians has been life-changing for me personally. I am truly thankful for God’s gifts of mercy and grace in my life. I praise You, God, for Your patience and long-suffering. Because of Your Love, I am resolved to be fully devoted to Your will for my life. Since I have had so much joy in studying, preparing, writing, and posting these lessons of God’s truths found in Scripture, I pray that I may continue to serve You faithfully in this pursuit of Jesus and presenting Him to others, all the days of my life that You have ordained for me. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen and amen!
><> ><> PRAYER <>< <><
Dear Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your Holy Word. May it always be precious and dear to me as I read and search the Scriptures! Thank You for Your church May I always be faithful in my prayer and service to those I fellowship with and have come to love. Thank You for the lessons I have learned, may I always depend on Your peace, presence, and grace in all that I do for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen!
Christian Hymn: Sweet Peace, the Gift of God’s Love by Peter P. Bilhorn in 1887
