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1 and 2 Thessalonians

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  1. Lesson One
    Overview of 1 and 2 Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1–3)
    20 Activities
  2. Lesson Two
    Christ's Return (1 Thessalonians 4–5)
    22 Activities
  3. Lesson Three
    The Man of Lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 1–2)
    19 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  4. Lesson Four
    Work (2 Thessalonians 3)
    17 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  5. Lesson Five
    Author and Audience (Review 1 and 2 Thessalonians)
    17 Activities
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment
Lesson 4, Activity 6
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In | The Already and Not Yet, Part 1

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The Gospels locate the church in “the overlap between the ages.” Paul’s message of salvation is one of something already accomplished in our Messiah crucified, “once for all” (Romans 6:10), that also anticipates a time when the “completeness comes” (1 Corinthians 13:10) when the Messiah returns as King.

Since Genesis, we’ve seen people living between God’s promises and their completion, and with Paul we take another step closer to fulfillment. Something new and decisive has happened in Jesus, which has stirred hope with a renewed promise.

Thus, we live in an age of “already” and also “not yet”—some things are completed, while other things are assured but not yet fulfilled. Paul deals with some of these “already/not yet” issues with the Thessalonians. Consider this passage:

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 NIV

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