1:10 Our beliefs govern our actions. Those who don't believe that they are in danger of God's wrath will not flee from it.
CHAPTER 2 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together to him, 2 That you be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; "I never thought much of the courage of a lion-tamer. Inside the cage he is at least safe from people."
4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5 Do you not remember, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now you know what withholds that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
The Great Commission "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).
"Have you no wish for others to be saved?
Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that." Charles Spurgeon "If you do not make it a matter of study, how you may successfully act in building up the kingdom of Christ, you are acting a very wicked and absurd part as a Christian."
Charles Finney "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest" (Matthew 9:37,38).
"Oh my friends, we are loaded down with countless church activities, while the real work of the church, that of evangelizing the world and winning the lost, is almost entirely neglected!" Oswald J. Smith "Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46).
(See John 4:7 comment on how to effectively share your faith.) 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and