2 Thessalonians 3:3, 4 But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil. Thessalonians. He dismisses all thoughts about himself, and returns to the thought of comforting his converts. I. THE DOUBLE BLESSING IN STORE FOR THEM. "Who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil." 1. An essential factor in their Christian comfort was establishment (1) in the doctrines of the gospel, which were threatened by godless or fickle speculators; (2) in the grace of faith, which may be weakened by persecution or by misconceptions of truth; (3) in the profession of faith, which true believers will be able to hold fast to the end. 2. An equally essential factor was their preservation from evil, either (1) in the form of sin, that it should not have dominion over them or reign unto death; (2) or in the form of Satanic temptation; (3) or in the form of opposition from unreasonable and wicked men. II. THE ARGUMENT TO ASSURE THEM OF THIS DOUBLE BLESSING. "The Lord is faithful." He will be true to his promises, and not suffer one of them to fail. The Lord Jesus is at once the Author and the Finisher of our faith. "We are complete in him;" we are "strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:13). "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13). III. THE CONFIDENCE OF THE APOSTLE BASED ON THIS ASSURANCE. "But we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that you are both doing and will do the things which we command you." 1. The ultimate ground of his confidence touching them was in the grace and strength of the Lord, not in themselves, or their wisdom, or strength. 2. The matter of his confidence - their present and future obedience to his commands. There must be a patient continuance in well doing; a ready, universal, perpetual obedience to the commands he had already given them by the authority of Christ, and to those which he was now about to give to them. - T.C. Parallel Verses KJV: But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.WEB: But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you, and guard you from the evil one. |
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