We Are Bound To Give Thanks

"We Are Bound To Give Thanks" is a textual sermon by Earl White.

2 Thess. 2:13-14

"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: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Introduction: There are several things in these verses that Paul spells out that should be a cause of great thanksgiving. First of all Paul is:

I. THANKFUL FOR GOD’S PLAN

"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. . .”

The word “chosen” is an aorist tense. The aorist tense is a point of time divorced from time and perpetuated forever. It is in the middle voice and that is where the subject (God) is benefited from the action of the main verb. That means that God chose the believer for Himself and for His glory.

Peter speaks to this subject. 1 Peter 1:2, "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."

We need to be thankful for God’s plan. God does not act haphazardly. As believers we are a chosen group, saved for eternity, paid for and purchased by the blood of the Lamb of God, and sealed as a guarantee that God will finish the job when He calls the sons of glory home. Someone hold my mules!!! Hallelujah!!!

II. THANKFUL FOR GOD’S SALVATION

Have you ever thought about what it means to say,” I am saved.” This is not saying, “I know I’m good enough.” It is not saying, “I know my church membership will get me to heaven.” This means that we know God has saved us. We are the recipients of eternal life given to us by the grace of God alone. If we understand this we are bound to give thanks.

Titus 3:5-7, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

III. THANKFUL FOR GOD’S FAMILY

Ephesians 3:15, "Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named," Every born again believer is in God’s family. This family is scattered all over the world.

When Jesus came He organized a Church as a meeting place for those in His family. This is where we give God glory from our lives. Ephesians 3:21, "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." When we are saved we become the brother of every other born again believer in heaven and on earth.

There has been a family feud going on ever since Jesus left the Church to do His work. I guess I am a part of the feud for there are some things that I believe that are important to me with which some of my brethren do not agree. And they are not things that can be lightly put aside.

Every man must give an account for himself. I’m sure I will have a lot to give an account for. But I do truly love my brethren. If you name the name of Christ you are by brother and my sister. We should be thankful for God’s family.

IV. THANKFUL FOR THE TRUTH OF SANCTIFICATION

1 Corinthians 1:30, "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"

The word “Sanctify” means, “a sacred thing.” The word holy comes from this word. Now let’s look at this verse. We will just look at the word “sanctification.” I begin by asking a question. Are you sanctified? Are you holy? The Bible says, “Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.” If you can’t say you are holy where does that leave you?

This text says, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification . . .” This verse says, “Who (Jesus) of God is made unto us . . . Sanctification.” This means that He is my sanctification before the Father. What a blessing. We are bound to give thanks if we understand this.

Another important thing is that the Church at Corinth has more wrong with it than any church named in the New Testament. This was true at the time of this writing. Paul did not say that this was true just of those who were living a godly life. While godliness is the rule, sanctification is a gift of Christ to every believer.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

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