how is your relationship with god like a marriage?

HOW IS YOUR HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP RELATIONSHIP

WITH GOD WITH GOD LIKE A LIKE A

MARRIAGE?MARRIAGE?

II Thessalonians 2:13-17II Thessalonians 2:13-17

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved loved by the Lordby the Lord, because from the beginning , because from the beginning God chose God chose youyou to be saved through the sanctifying work of the to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called youHe called you to to this through our gospel, that you might share in the this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to youyou, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our , whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

I. God Loves You.I. God Loves You.But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved loved

by the Lordby the Lord, because from the beginning God chose , because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.Spirit and through belief in the truth.

A. How did God demonstrate His A. How did God demonstrate His love? By having Jesus die on love? By having Jesus die on the cross!the cross!

John 3:16 - John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Sonone and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall , that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.not perish but have eternal life.

I. God Loves You.I. God Loves You.

1. This was an 1. This was an historicalhistorical event! event!

I. God Loves You.I. God Loves You.

2. Jesus paid the price for your 2. Jesus paid the price for your sin opening the door for a sin opening the door for a relationship with God.relationship with God.

Romans 5:6-8 - You see, at just the right time, when we Romans 5:6-8 - You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will any one die for a righteous man, though rarely will any one die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for usWhile we were still sinners, Christ died for us. .

I. God Loves You.I. God Loves You.

B. This is like the boy loving the girl B. This is like the boy loving the girl & demonstrating his love for her.& demonstrating his love for her.

I. God Loves You.I. God Loves You.

I. God Loves You.I. God Loves You.

II. God Chose You.II. God Chose You.But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved

by the Lord, because from the beginning by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose God chose youyou to be saved through the sanctifying work of the to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.Spirit and through belief in the truth.

A. Here is a translation problem.A. Here is a translation problem.

II. God Chose You.II. God Chose You.

1. What made early manuscripts 1. What made early manuscripts hard to read?hard to read?

II. God Chose You.II. God Chose You.

1. What made early manuscripts 1. What made early manuscripts hard to read?hard to read?

IPLEDGEALLEGIANCETOTHEFLAGOFIPLEDGEALLEGIANCETOTHEFLAGOFTHEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICAANDTTHEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICAANDTOTHEREPUBLICFORWHICHITSTANDSOTHEREPUBLICFORWHICHITSTANDSONENATIONUNDERGODINDIVISIBLEONENATIONUNDERGODINDIVISIBLEWITHLIBERTYANDJUSTICEFORALLWITHLIBERTYANDJUSTICEFORALL

II. God Chose You.II. God Chose You.

1. What made early manuscripts 1. What made early manuscripts hard to read?hard to read?I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALLLIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL

II. God Chose You.II. God Chose You.

2. The problem here.2. The problem here.

ἀπ αρχή = from the = from the beginning.beginning.

. . . . . . from the beginningfrom the beginning God chose you - v13 God chose you - v13

II. God Chose You.II. God Chose You.

2. The problem here.2. The problem here.

ἀπ αρχή = from the = from the beginning.beginning.

. . . from the beginning God chose you - v13. . . from the beginning God chose you - v13

ἀπαρχή = firstfruits.= firstfruits.God chose you God chose you as His firstfruitsas His firstfruits - v13 - v13

II. God Chose You.II. God Chose You.

B. God chose you to be B. God chose you to be savedsaved..

II. God Chose You.II. God Chose You.

B. God chose you to be B. God chose you to be savedsaved..

1. God’s part = the Holy Spirit 1. God’s part = the Holy Spirit sanctifying you.sanctifying you.

II. God Chose You.II. God Chose You.

B. God chose you to be B. God chose you to be savedsaved..

1. God’s part = the Holy Spirit 1. God’s part = the Holy Spirit sanctifying you.sanctifying you.

2. Your part = having faith in the 2. Your part = having faith in the truth.truth.

II. God Chose You.II. God Chose You.

C. This is like the boy choosing the C. This is like the boy choosing the girl by proposing to her.girl by proposing to her.

II. God Chose You.II. God Chose You.

I. God Loves You.I. God Loves You.

II. God Chose You.II. God Chose You.

III. God Calls You.III. God Calls You.He called youHe called you to this through our gospel, that you might to this through our gospel, that you might

share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. - v14share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. - v14

A. How does God call? A. How does God call?

III. God Calls You.III. God Calls You.

A. How does God call?A. How does God call?

1. Dying on the cross to pay for 1. Dying on the cross to pay for your sin. your sin.

III. God Calls You.III. God Calls You.

A. How does God call?A. How does God call?

1. Dying on the cross to pay for 1. Dying on the cross to pay for your sin.your sin.

2. Providing the gospel message 2. Providing the gospel message for you to respond to. for you to respond to.

III. God Calls You.III. God Calls You.

B. What is the purpose of this call?B. What is the purpose of this call?

III. God Calls You.III. God Calls You.

B. What is the purpose of this call?B. What is the purpose of this call?

1. So you could obtain His 1. So you could obtain His inheritanceinheritance..

I Peter 1:3-4 - In his great mercy he has I Peter 1:3-4 - In his great mercy he has given us new given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fadethat can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven — kept in heaven for you.for you.

III. God Calls You.III. God Calls You.

B. What is the purpose of this call?B. What is the purpose of this call?

1. So you could obtain His 1. So you could obtain His inheritanceinheritance..

2. So you can be 2. So you can be jointjoint heirsheirs with with Christ.Christ.

Romans 8:17 - Now if we are children, then we are heirs Romans 8:17 - Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christco-heirs with Christ, if indeed we , if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. share in his glory.

III. God Calls You.III. God Calls You.

C. This is like the boy calling the girl C. This is like the boy calling the girl by the wedding ceremony.by the wedding ceremony.

III. God Calls You.III. God Calls You.

C. This is like the boy calling the girl C. This is like the boy calling the girl by the wedding ceremony.by the wedding ceremony.

1. God formally calls you through 1. God formally calls you through the gospel.the gospel.

III. God Calls You.III. God Calls You.

C. This is like the boy calling the girl C. This is like the boy calling the girl by the wedding ceremony.by the wedding ceremony.

1. God formally calls you through 1. God formally calls you through the gospel.the gospel.

2. You say, “I do” when you obey 2. You say, “I do” when you obey the gospel by being baptized.the gospel by being baptized.

III. God Calls You.III. God Calls You.

I. God Loves You.I. God Loves You.

II. God Chose You.II. God Chose You.

III. God Calls You.III. God Calls You.

IV. But You Need to Remain Faithful to IV. But You Need to Remain Faithful to That Call.That Call.

So then, brothers, So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachingsstand firm and hold to the teachings we we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. - passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. - v15v15

A. You do this by A. You do this by standing firmstanding firm & & holding toholding to these teachings. these teachings.

So then, brothers, So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachingsstand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. - v15by letter. - v15

III. But You Need to Remain Faithful to That Call.III. But You Need to Remain Faithful to That Call.

A. You do this by A. You do this by standing firmstanding firm & & holding toholding to these teachings. these teachings.

1. Imperative mood = these are 1. Imperative mood = these are commandscommands..

III. But You Need to Remain Faithful to That Call.III. But You Need to Remain Faithful to That Call.

A. You do this by A. You do this by standing firmstanding firm & & holding toholding to these teachings. these teachings.

1. Imperative mood = these are 1. Imperative mood = these are commandscommands..

2. Present tense = they are to be 2. Present tense = they are to be done done continuallycontinually..

III. But You Need to Remain Faithful to That Call.III. But You Need to Remain Faithful to That Call.

B. The source of these teachings is B. The source of these teachings is the New Testament.the New Testament.

So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letterby letter. - v15. - v15

III. But You Need to Remain Faithful to That Call.III. But You Need to Remain Faithful to That Call.

C. Just as both people in a marriage C. Just as both people in a marriage must remain faithful, so you need must remain faithful, so you need to be faithful to this salvation to be faithful to this salvation relationship to be successful.relationship to be successful.

III. But You Need to Remain Faithful to That Call.III. But You Need to Remain Faithful to That Call.

God loves youGod loves youDemonstrated by the cross.Demonstrated by the cross.

God chose youGod chose youDemonstrated by the gospel message.Demonstrated by the gospel message.

God calls youGod calls youDemonstrated by Christian baptism.Demonstrated by Christian baptism.

Remain faithful by learning & Remain faithful by learning & obeying.obeying.