(2 Thess 2:13b “….. because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (14)  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Notice the plain Words before us. To believe the truth leads to the actions of responding to the call to be saved, contrasted with (2Th 2:12) “That they all might be damned who believed not the truth,…”  The truth: to not believe and respond to Jesus is to damn the soul for eternity; to respond in repentance and ask for the gift of everlasting life is to be saved for eternity. There is no other way to be saved: (Act_4:12) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” 

(2Th 2:13)  “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”   “Sanctification of the Spirit”. One: By the Spirit of God  entering and sealing the bodies of the saved, we are set apart from the rest of the world that is lost.  Two: we are set apart as holy vessels to be used of God. Three: by the salvation experience He imparts we are set apart mentally from the thinking of this world. Therefore the truly saved should by their very behavior stand out as different from those who are lost. Saved people that in behavior live as if this does not matter live in danger: (1Co 3:16) “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (17)  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 

 DAILY DROP OF WATER  (2Th 2:13)  “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”  The Lord calls to Himself those whom He knows will listen and respond. Those who truly listen and respond have a heart to turn from the sins that crucified Jesus. That is what a heart of love desires. Does this describe you?  

 (2 Thess 2:12)  “That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”  When you consider this verse closely, you have to draw the conclusion that to believe the truth brings with it a change of life – believe, action, withdraw from what displeases the Savior. Bible belief is not the acceptance of facts as true. Bible believe is acting upon that truth to seek forgiveness and the gift of everlasting life. You and I know instinctively that God hates evil and to embrace Him is to turn our backs upon evil ways. This is why so many will play Christian rather than embrace true Christianity. They would rather lie to themselves and tell themselves God loves them as they are. No, God loves you despite what you are and will be forced to judge your sin with hell if you do not repent and seek the Gift of Everlasting Life in truth.

(2 Thess 2:12)  “That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”  Pleasure in unrighteousness. So many who profess to be saved, do as they desire to do on Sunday and the rest of the week, and then say, “The Lord understands.” Yes, He understands disobedience. The Lord never makes allowances for willful disobedience. Such a person wants God to be faithful when they need Him, even though again and again they have been unfaithful, in His face with it. God is God, not a genie in a bottle. Obedience is required of Him: (Deu 10:12) “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, (13)  To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?” 

 (2Th 2:11)  “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (12)  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”  Everyone makes a choice in this live for God or to live in sin before Him fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. They are doing so despite the fact they know God’s Son died on a cross for that sin. Attitude: “I’ll do what I want today and tomorrow I will deal with it when it comes.” Sad, for the tomorrows of damnation will never end.

(2 Thess 2:10b) “….because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (11)  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:”   Lie: not all of the Bible is true; it contains God’s Word but also contains fables. Truth: It is true from cover to cover. That which seems impossible becomes possible the moment you say, “God”. I have read it through over 160 times, not counting study, and the more I read it the more I see Its truth and accuracy. It is the only Truth upon this earth. Go to it and cling to Its Words!

 (2 Thess 2:10b) “….because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (11)  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:”  If one chooses to deny the one and only true God as He has revealed Himself through the Person of Jesus Christ, then they will reap judgment. I personally believe this is what we see today in America. It reminds me of what God said regarding Israel: (Psa 106:13) “They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: (14)  But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. (15)  And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.”  It is possible they didn’t even perceive that although their flesh was full, their soul was starving! Friend, forsake your own desires and cling to the Lord. Desire Him first and foremost.

 (2Th 2:9)  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (10)  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” The lost bought into lies because they would not receive the truth – Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn 14:6)!  Multitudes claim to love the Lord Jesus Who never pick up His Bible to see how to please Him. This is the “tool” which He used to overcome Satan in the wilderness (it is written, Matt 4). We are told to live by Its every Word, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by EVERY Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4) We are told it is the “sword of the Spirit” Who lives inside the truly saved (Eph 6:17). He said, “If ye love Me, keep my commandmants” (Jn 14:15) Our actions indeed speak louder than our words.

(2Th 2:9)  “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,”  Understand that this one is pretending to be Christ. So, the signs and lying wonders will appear as “good things”. Even as far back as Egypt, men were able to duplicate some of the miracles of God through Satan. Beware. Not all who claim to be followers of Christ are what they claim to be. Here’s something to look for: “Is the focus of the meeting the physical or the spiritual?” The Lord does not care as much about your body as He does your soul and spirit – how you live your life!