The Judgment of Believers – Week 31 / July 28th

by admin

2Thessalonians 1

After giving his normal greeting to the believers at Thessaloniki, Paul addresses the subject of the believer in trials, persecutions and troubles. Essentially he talks about three cycles that “role’ through the believer’s life all the time. We need to learn this as we too will pass this way as we walk with Jesus.

1. The Cycle of Growth
In verse three Paul commends them for their growth in character and faith. The primary focus of the believer is to become like Jesus. This means living His life and demonstrating His life by works of faith. Faith here is not saving faith, or the gift of faith but fruitful faith. We have each one received a measure of this faith that we are to grow like a muscle. (Romans 12:3)

2. The Cycle of Judgment
From verse four onwards this matter constitutes the main burden of the text. Paul tells them that that their on-going trials, persecutions and troubles are evidence of the judgment of God over their lives. This is God’s loving and very present judgment designed to purge sin and carnality from their lives and it is not to be confused with the judgment of believers that will take place after Jesus comes a second time (Romans 14:11-12). It is thus internal in that it changes us and purifies us and so it is also external in that it makes us worthy of the kingdom of God and it is ironic because, the people prepared for hell are the people that will God will use to prepare his people for Heaven! Wicked people will be finally dealt with on the Day when Jesus comes in flaming fire to judge the earth. This is also the Day when we will see Him for the first time! This is not a secret rapture!

3. The Cycle of Glorification
In verses eleven and twelve he assures them that a time will come, in the present, when Jesus will be glorified in their lives. In other words people will see the transforming power of His power and presence in their lives. They will shine for Him just as the early Disciple did when their antagonists took note “that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13) What a wonderful time this is and we do thank God for it and for His mysterious way.
It needs to be stressed that these cycles will continue to “run” through our lives until Jesus comes or takes us home. We are to be patient, full of trust and faithful knowing that all things do work together for good for them that love God and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Malcolm Hedding.

©Malcolm Hedding Ministries

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