2 Thessalonians Chapter 1 Verses 6 – 8

• Like many prophetic verses in the Bible, this set has an immediate application as well as a coming conclusion. A future fulfillment. Paul essentially says, “Bank on it, count on it like the first and 15^th, for the wicked…vengeance, for the righteous…rest.”

• He starts by saying, “It is a righteous thing with God to repay with trouble, those who trouble you.” Don’t get this twisted. Don’t get confused. Some wrestle with the idea that God’s love and God’s judgment contradict each other but that is absurd! God’s judgment is entirely righteous! It is the meeting that man has arranged is another interesting way to say it.
• Galatians 6:7 says, “Don’t be deceived, don’t get it twisted, chew on this until you’re able to swallow…Don’t be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
• It is purely righteous that real love will not accept real evil…and since God is not characterized as righteous, He is all Righteousness Himself, He must and will repay all evil! Now for the child of God, the one who has accepted the free gift of justification through the blood of Jesus…sow to the flesh…your corruption still comes but it’s in the form of a whooping from Father.
• Hebrews 12:5-6 says, “You have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and sourages every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?” When you see a Christian getting away with living carnally, be very afraid for them…pray for them…evangelize them…certainly don’t partner with them or raise them up in ministry!!! Because a Christian that sleeps well at night with seemingly little trouble in their heart yet their lives are entirely misaligned from what they know to be true and good and God honoring…Hebrews 6 continues and calls that one, “illegit!”
• But that’s not what Paul is talking about here in 2 Thessalonians. Because for the child of God, judgment has been dealt…it was dealt to Jesus 2,000 years ago and through His cross, death and resurrection, He has imputed righteousness to all those who will come to Him and accept Him…God’s righteousness, His eternal judgment has been completely satisfied in Jesus on behalf of whosoever will choose to believe and be filled with the very Spirit of God…
• So get this. Digest this and receive this doctrine which I find unequivocally clear throughout the totality of the Bible…In light of what we just discussed, it would not be a righteous thing for God to repay the righteous with eternal judgment, right? If Jesus has paid our price and now by His stripes we are healed, by the perfect and precious blood of Jesus we are justified, righteous and well in the eyes of God…right? If that’s the case, and it is, then God is fresh out of eternal judgment for us! His wrath is not for us. “God has not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
• Remember Abraham discussing Sodom and Gomorra with God? He said, “Would you destroy the righteous with the wicked?” And what was God’s answer? “Certainly not!” (Genesis 18) And so God delivered Lot before the destruction…what’s my point? The Great Tribulation is described as the time of God’s wrath, His outpouring of His righteousness, His passion, on a world that won’t have it…The time of God’s judgment upon this world...it is not for those who have nothing to judge…understand? Each person will receive the Great Tribulation in one of two ways…the seven years on this earth or by the seven statements of Jesus on the cross.

• Back to our text. Contextually we know that Paul is talking about those who are outside the family of faith specifically…He says, “Jesus is coming. And when He does, in that last day, vengeance will be taken on those who do not know God.” And so he is specifically talking about non-believers. Correcting and comforting that young church there that they don’t need to defeat God’s enemies…God is well and able and planning to do that Himself. Why? Because He is a good and just God. This word vengeance is the same exact particular precise root word as the word “righteous.” And it most literally means, “Firm administration of unwavering justice.”

• Here’s the fact folks. Receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. There is no other way. God has made that so entirely clear that He sent His only Son and They even discussed it the night before Jesus was sacrificed and God’s own conclusion, “If not through Jesus, then nothing.”
• And don’t miss this…notice the qualifier that Paul gives us. He says those that do not know God…are those who do not obey the gospel. How do you “obey” the gospel? Jesus said it best, “Love the Lord with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. And love others as yourself.” Isn’t that revealing? God is so all or nothing. I wonder if you know that…to know God, is to have a heart that yearns for that…and ultimately, eventually, little by little, here a little and there a little…growth towards heaven happens in the heart and life of the true believer…as the flesh falls apart and the spirit strengthens more each day…that is what obeying the Gospel is all about. Literal translation, to submit to it…to answer the door at the knock…And in that, relationship with God Himself!
• Paul now speaks of the white throne judgment scene…

2 Thessalonians Chapter 1 Verses 9 - 12

• Two things as we close the first chapter. Paul commended them in the beginning of this letter for their faith and love. Do you remember what he commended them for in his first letter? Faith, love and hope. You gotta have all three and somehow they had lost their hope. I love what Courson says. Faith takes care of your past. You are who you are today by the grace of God! Hope takes care of your future. And both of those things secure you for the most important thing for today, the present. Love.
• Paul reminds them that the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power…is simply this…the name of Jesus be glorified in you and you in Him. Rest in His faithfulness. Rest in His sure hope. And rest in His love. Don’t carry on as the wayward son…don’t keep journeying looking for life…because that’s what you’re doing…Jesus is the answer. He is God…only God has grace…and Paul says that we rest according to the grace of God and Jesus…therefore they must be One. Jesus is the key. He is the combination to the lock of life and whatever it is you’ve got to face…so face it. Fill up with faith, hope and love…fill up with the very Spirit of God…resting in Him (Ironman style)!