The Second Coming and Sanctification
For the introduction to this series see. This will explain why this is my third post yet this is only the first week in Advent!
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all, even as we toward you:
and the Lord make you to - just as salvation is the work of God received by faith, so this is also the work of God received by faith
increase and abound in love – they had begun their Christian life with love for one another and Paul prays that this love would increase and abound.
one toward another – for brothers and sisters, the church
and toward all – it is not “love your brother and hate your enemy” with us, no, we love the brethren and we love those outside the family as well.
even as we toward you – they would no doubt remember Paul’s love for them, which he reminded them of in chapter 2:
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. 9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: 11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
In v 13 we find what this prayer for increased and abounding love is aiming at
To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
To the end – this is the purpose, this is the goal of this prayer
he may stablish your hearts – establish, strengthen, make firm
unblameable in holiness before God - Holiness is not talked about much these days, but Paul was clearly a holiness preacher. He speaks of it often in both epistles.
First, we have to admit that unblameable in holiness before God is a possibility. After all, this was Paul’s inspired prayer for them.
Second, the holiness in view here is not that stuffy, starchy, sanctimonious caricature so often portrayed. No, this is a person who is increased and abounding in love. Love suffers long and is kind; does not envy; does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love is not hateful or ugly or mean-spirited. He is not saying such are without fault or error, but that such a person is unblameable in holiness with a love like this. If Paul prayed for them to have this kind of love, surely we can pray this for ourselves. When we notice something unkind, ugly, or mean-spirited in our hearts or attitudes, then we should pray that he would make us to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all so that we might be found unblameable in holiness...
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints – here is our goal, to be unblameable in holiness before God at the coming of Christ. Coming is that word parousia. Have you noticed how Paul is painting a picture of the coming of the Lord? In chapter 1 it is merely, his Son from heaven. Chapter 2 it is, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming. And here it is, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. He keeps adding details. And the detail added in chapter 3 is this, when Jesus comes he will be accompanied by all his saints. When he sallies forth in that great day, all his saints, from all the ages, will appear with him. This is no secret, this is not something hidden. The parousia of Christ will be visible, personal, in power, and with great glory! and what a retinue will accompany him! What an entourage! His glorious train will be all his saints! Hallelujah! Maranatha!
When Jesus comes, and all his saints with him, what about us who are alive and remain to that day? Where will we be? Ah, chapter 4 adds that detail!
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