By word or by letter

2nd Thessalonians 2:13-15

When Paul wrote, "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9);" he was speaking about the means of salvation. However, he was quick to include the mode of salvation when he added, "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them (Romans 10:14-15)?" Unfortunately, many Christians never go any further than just believing it. They receive the gospel message, they take it into their hearts, and then they hide it as if it were something to be concealed from the rest of the world. They forget, or were never taught, that they are ambassadors of God Himself (2nd Corinthians 5:20) and have been given onto the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). What I mean by that is that we have all been given the responsibility of bringing people to Christ, one way or another and regardless of what are gifts may be. This taps into the heart of our faith; not only that we confess it with our mouths, but that we continue to proclaim it as well. In 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2, Paul is explaining to his readers what must take place before the return of Christ, specifically the appearance of the man of lawlessness. Paul makes special note that the man of lawlessness comes with counterfeit signs and miracles that are designed to deceive those who are already perishing. More so, that God Himself sends a great delusion so those who are perishing will believe the lie. Why, because they have not believed the truth but delighted in wickedness. Now starting in verse 13 Paul changes his focus from those who are perishing to those who are saved; in this case the Thessalonians who believe in the truth. He wrote, "But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter (2nd Thessalonians 2:13-15)." Paul understood instinctively that the communication of the gospel was paramount in the salvation process. God chose us to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, but He followed this with the proclamation of the gospel message so that we would know that He had called us onto Himself. For this reason, it is never enough for us to just live a life that compliments the gospel of Christ, or to just live a life that is secure in the gospel of Christ; we must, as well, complete our calling by communicating the gospel of Christ. Good deeds by themselves will only communicate that we live to a higher standard. However, it fails to communicate that the standard we endeavor for is Jesus Christ. Nor do good deeds communicate the gospel message and the need for salvation. Yes, let us live our lives in such a way that the world cannot deny that there is something different about us, and let us demonstrate daily the very love and grace that wrought our salvation. But most importantly, let us communicate to a lost and desperate world that the difference they see, and the life we demonstrate, is a direct result of the love and grace bestowed upon us through the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus Christ; a sacrifice which paid the penalties and satisfied the righteous requirements of the Father for all mankind. Again, and I implore you, don't just know it, and don't just show it; but with full authority and confidence, whether by word of mouth or by letter, let it be known throughout the world, so others may know and live as well.   [mp]

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Michael D'Urbano
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