The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Thessalonians — Section 45

espeoially of the oh&racter of God, there is &n e&sy transitio!l to unriahteousness. There are many ways in which they can persuade themselves, that they ~ay exercise liberty in their manner of living. They do not need to pray to God ; they do not need to rend God's Book ; they do not need to keep God's day ; they do not need to be strictly honourable in their transactions; they do not need to make sacrifices for others. It is enough that they keep up an appearance of probity and purity, and it may be of religion( before men. T~1ey can leave ~ll their failiugs to the general' mercy of o'od. 8. Unnghteo1um,,u kading to destn1,ction. ." For them that are perishing." From unrighteousness there is a necessary, though, it may not be, an immediate, trnnsition to destruction. When 11:1en d? not observe the rul~s whi_ch are laid down for them by God, they are contendmg with God, and, contendmg with God, they cannot in the end eucceed; for Go~ is stro~1ger than they. There we;e those who were perishing in their unnghteousness In Pauls day. And there are sl1ll those who seem to be perishina in their unrighteousness. 4. TM just dealing of God. (1) What those who are 1~ the antichristian movement n:fect. "Because th~y received not the love of the truth that they might be saved." The apostle holds that it was their own fault if they were perishing. And, in doing so, he brings forward very precious truth. God has in view our salvation. He willeth that all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. For this end :he makes us the offer, not of the truth, but Jf the disposition which is necessary for finding it-the love of the truth. Of all .iispositions it is that which is most needed to begin with. It is that which is needed against the <leceitfulness of the heart. It is that which is needed aaainst th deiusi ,·e lies of Satan. If we accept of the love of the truth, if we have th; dis- position to know the truth about ourselves, and to follow the Divine leading-and 3-oci promises us this disposition-then we shall certainly be led on to salvation. But if ~< de not accept of the love of the truth, if we have the disposition to flatt.er ourselves, ani tc: follow some ignisfatuw of our own imagination-and that is only too natural to uF- w• shall as cert~inly be led on to destruction. (2) What they induce. "And for 1hl£ cause God sendeth tl,em a working of error, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in righteousness." lleceiving not the truth, it was not with them as though the offer had not been made to them. There was induced a state of judicial blindness. As it was induced in con- nection with the Divine offer which was refused, and in accordance with the Divine laws in their nature, it could be attributed to God. It could be said that God sent them a working of error, that they should believe a lie. Christianity is the most reasonable, most beautiful thing in existence. But when men are in a state of judicial blindness, they do not see its reasonableness and beauty ; they believe men who lie a.bout it, and treat it with indifference, or disdain, or hatred. This can only lead on to their being judged and condemned, the ground of their condemnation being their not believing the truth especially about Christ, but taking pleasure in unrighteousness. Let us see, then, that we accept the great offer from God of veracity, of love for the truth. Let llll be willing to take a truthful view of things; not taking darkness for light, and evil for good. Let us be willing to follow the Divine leading. Let us especially be open toward Christ-toward the efficacy of his blood, toward the convincing power of his teachings, toward the enjoyment of his fellowship. And, if the antichristia.n manifestation goes forward a.round us, let us be all the more decided on the side of Christ.-R. F. Vere. 13-17.-Exhortation to suadfastne.. I. How GROUNDED. 1. The election ef tAe Theualoniafie. "But we are bound to give thanks to God al way for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation." This is another overflowing of gratitude for the Thessalonians, who are described not, as in 1 Theas. i. 4, 88 "brethren beloved of God," but 88 u brethren beloved of the Lord," i.e. ~haring with Paul and his colleagues in the special love and care of him who presides over the brotherhood. There is the same inward binding that there waR before (eh. i. 3) to give thanks to God, and to give thanks to God al way. What gave perpetual matttJT of thanksgiving, as in 1 Thess. i. 4, was the election of the Thessalonians. There is not brought in here, as there is there, their being chosen out of a condition of sin, but it is iwplied in their being chos,·11 uuto a oondition of salvation. Thev had been chosen from oe. u. 1-17.) THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANB. 43