2 Thessalonians 2:13–17 “Faith at Daybreak”

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• Elevation Worship – O come to the altar
• Hillsong Worship – Cornerstone
• Pat Barrett – Build My Life ft. Cory Asbury

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• Gizmo’s Daily Bible Byte – 244 – 1 Corinthians 16:13 – Stand Firm – Lesson for Kids
• I’ve Got the Joy Joy Joy Joy – Kidspring Worship – Song for Kids
• My God Is So Big (introducing Grayson the Elephant) – Song for Kids
• Stand Firm | HLA Babylon | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth arelocated in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

On this basis, the Apostle Paul offers words of thanksgiving for the Thessalonian believers. Through him, the Lord allowed the gospel to be proclaimed to them so that they might “be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth” (v.13). The phrases “sanctified by the Spirit” and “belief in the truth that leads to salvation” are synonymous expressions referring to the salvation found in Jesus Christ.

The Apostle states that God “chose [them] as firstfruits to be saved” from the very beginning. Seeing their remarkable faith, Paul believed it was the result of God’s special purpose. Their departure from Philippi and journey to Thessalonica was guided by God’s providence, and the opening of the Thessalonians’ hearts to receive the gospel (“our gospel,” v.14) was also stirred by God. As a result, they came to share in “the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul urges them to stand firm and hold fast to the traditions taught, whether by spoken word or by letter (v.15). These “traditions” refer to the teachings about Jesus that Paul had received from the Twelve Apostles (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:3).

Verses 16 and 17 contain Paul’s blessing and prayer for the Thessalonians. He describes God as “our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope” (v.16). The eternal comfort and hope we receive in Christ come entirely by “grace.” We have no merit or qualification to claim them. Paul prays that God the Father and the Lord Jesus would “encourage [their] hearts and strengthen [them] in every good deed and word” (v.17).

Meditation:

Salvation has “already” begun among us, but it is “not yet” complete. The kingdom of God is present in our midst now, yet it will also be revealed to us in its fullness in the future. In faith, we are already made new, but in the coming kingdom of God, we will be completely transformed into a new creation. Jesus returns to us daily through the Holy Spirit, but He will also return as the King of the universe with cosmic upheaval.

We are living in the in-between time. Some theologians have described this as “daybreak.” It is neither night nor day. It is the time when light breaks into darkness, when night passes and day begins. In Jesus Christ, we are living in the dawn of God’s kingdom.

Therefore, we live by enjoying the things that have “already” happened among us “now,” while at the same time looking toward the completion of all things in the future. This is the “tradition” Paul passed down to the Thessalonians. To deny the salvation that has “already” been accomplished for us and to place hope only in the future, or to deny the hope of the future and focus only on the present, is to distort the gospel of Jesus. Right now, we are sanctified by the Spirit and believe in the truth, enjoying salvation. All of this will be completed when Jesus returns. This is what Paul meant by “sharing in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Therefore, Paul prayed for the Thessalonians, “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word” (v.17). Now, by the power of the Spirit, we must be transformed so that through our words and actions we may reveal the holy, righteous, and good character of Christ.

Prayer:

Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who has loved us and by grace given us eternal comfort and good hope, encourage our hearts and strengthen us in every good deed and word. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: God’s kingdom is already here but not yet complete. We live in the “dawn” of His kingdom—where light has broken into the darkness—and we are called to live faithfully now, trusting that Jesus will return to finish what He began.

• For Preschool-Elementary
  • Dawn is the time when night is ending, and the sun is rising. How is living for Jesus like living in the dawn?
  • What are some good things God has already given us right now (family, friends, church, hope, love)?
  • When you feel scared or worried, how can you remember that Jesus is with you now and will come again?
    
• Youth
  • The Bible says salvation is “already” here but “not yet” complete. What does it mean to live between what God has already done and what He will finish?
  • How might focusing only on the future or only on the present cause us to misunderstand the gospel?
  • Paul prays that God would strengthen us in “every good deed and word.” What are some examples of words or actions that reflect Christ’s character in your school, friendships, or online life?