“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.”
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
If we doubt the salvation of the Lord, Paul’s descriptions of the end times are frightening. While they serve as a warning to the wicked and call God’s church to watchfulness, they are not a call to fear.
Notice how Paul ends this chapter with a warm, encouraging benediction. In our Savior we have by grace “eternal encouragement and good hope.” His prayer is that God would not do anything less than establish us in eternal comfort through yet even more comfort. It’s like having infinite riches plus interest!
Such comfort comes only from Jesus. That’s why the first question and answer of the Heidelberg Catechism say, “What is your only comfort in life and death? That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. …Without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation” (1563).
Notice how Paul ends this chapter with a warm, encouraging benediction. In our Savior we have by grace “eternal encouragement and good hope.” His prayer is that God would not do anything less than establish us in eternal comfort through yet even more comfort. It’s like having infinite riches plus interest!
Such comfort comes only from Jesus. That’s why the first question and answer of the Heidelberg Catechism say, “What is your only comfort in life and death? That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. …Without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation” (1563).
Scripture Focus
2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
Insight
Through His work on the cross, Jesus thoroughly secured eternal life for us, life that will overcome even the darkest hours we’ve known.
Bible In A Year
- 1 Chronicles 6-7
- Proverbs 27
- Revelation 8-10
