Glory to Christ 2 Thess 1:3-12 SS Lesson for 07/11/2010 Devotional Scripture: 2 Cor 4:7-15 OUTLINE INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW AND APPROACH TO LESSON LESSON INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND From the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary From the Bible Expositor and Illuminator MAJOR THEME ANALYSIS GLORY TO CHRIST FOR FAITH (2 THESS 1:3-5) Growing faith (3) Growing faith is being built up in unity, knowledge of God, and attaining the full measure of the fullness of Jesus (Eph 4:11-13) Growing faith is progressing in the practice of using God's Word (Heb 5:14) Growing faith is being patient and waiting on God and His perfect purposes to work in our life (James 1:4) Growing faith is maturing in the Divine graces and gifts that God provides (2 Peter 1:3-8) Growing faith is having as our goal to "run in such a way" that we may win an imperishable crown, an eternal reward from our Savior (1 Cor 3:12-14) Growing faith is fixing our eyes on Jesus who perfects our faith (Heb 12:2) Patient faith (4) Patient faith while we wait on God (Ps 27:14) Patient faith while having hope in God (Lam 3:25) Patient faith while imitating those who will inherit God's promises (Heb 6:12) Patient faith until Jesus' coming (James 5:7-8) Patient faith in affliction and prayer (Rom 12:12) Patient faith through endurance (2 Cor 1:6) Righteous faith (5) Righteousness that comes by faith (Heb 11:7) Righteousness that has been credited through faith (Rom 4:2-5) Righteousness that we have faith and hope in (Gal 5:5) A righteousness through faith that comes from God (Phil 3:9) A righteous faith that is not by works of the law (Rom 9:30-32) GLORY TO CHRIST FOR JUSTICE (2 THESS 1:6-9) Justice through vindication (6) Vindication that comes from God who is always right (Ps 17:2) Vindication through God's righteousness (Ps 35:24) Vindication for those who leads others to sin (Matt 18:6) Vindication that repays those who hate God (Deut 32:41) Vindication that only God can perform (Rom 12:19) Rest because of justice (7) Rest that is an inheritance of which God will never forsake (Ps 94:13-14) Rest that is peaceful and secure (Isa 32:18) Rest that provides relief from troubles (2 Thess 1:7) Rest that is a blessing for those who are dead and who die in the Lord (Rev 14:13) Rest that is a Sabbath rest for God's people (Heb 4:9-10) Justice through punishment for the persecutors (8-9) Through punishment for the unrighteous (2 Peter 2:9) Through punishment for an unrepentant heart (Rom 2:5) Through punishment for the ungodly (2 Peter 3:7) Through punishment for the wicked (Prov 16:4) Glory to Christ Page 1 of 11 SS Lesson for 07/11/2010
Through punishment for the angels that sinned (2 Peter 2:4) GLORY TO CHRIST FOR GLORIFYING HIS SAINTS (2 THESS 1:10-12) Glorification in the day of the Lord (10) Those God predestined, He called and justified, He also glorified (Rom 8:30) God will transform our bodies into a glorified one (Phil 3:21) Glorification means taking on the attributes of God (Ps 17:15) Glorification by fulfilling His work in us (11-12) Fulfilling His work in us by His completing what He began (Phil 1:6) Fulfilling His work in us according to His good purposes (Phil 2:13) Fulfilling His work in us to make us complete (Heb 13:20-21) Fulfilling His work in us to give us life (Rom 8:11) Martyrdom A Worthy Calling (from the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary) CONCLUSION AND OTHER THOUGHTS CONCLUDING THOUGHTS FROM THE NIV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY CONCLUDING THOUGHTS FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR PRACTICAL POINTS FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR HEART OF THE LESSON FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR Faithfulness in persecution and tribulation (2 Thess. 1:3-4) Suffering for God's kingdom (2 Thess. 1:5) God's recompense to the persecutors (2 Thess. 1:6-9) God's blessing on the persecuted (2 Thess. 1:10) Keep on being faithful (2 Thess. 1:11-12) Glory to Christ Page 2 of 11 SS Lesson for 07/11/2010
Introduction Overview and Approach to Lesson The concept of the outline of the lesson came from the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary. The lesson reviews why we should give Glory to Christ. The study's aim is to see that human oppression of Christians will more than be matched by Divine judgment. The study's application is to bring glory to Christ today in our prayers and lives. Lesson Introduction and Background From the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary Finding Inspiration Our culture loves violent movies. This should not surprise us. These are violent days. Homes, schools, and public venues have suffered a great deal from the devastating effects of violence. What I find more surprising is that many Christians also love violent movies. Though we follow the Prince of Peace, many of us are still captivated by violence s deadly allure. Sure, we long for the day when swords are beaten into plowshares, but until then we are content to entertain ourselves with reenactments of the world s most tragic and gruesome events and portrayals of unspeakable acts of violence dreamed up by Hollywood s most creative filmmakers. I recently asked a good friend for his opinion about why this is so. His response was thought provoking. He suggested that we watch violent movies because tragedy often brings the best out of people. We find inspiration in a heroine s bravery. We admire those who give their all to protect a worthy cause. We may not identify with their particular cause, but we wish to associate with their fierce loyalty. My friend further suggested that violence-filled movies are really the only place in his life where these particular emotions are evoked. They touch a nerve deep within him that Bible lessons, song services, and sermon illustrations simply do not reach. My point is neither to condemn the church for not engaging every aspect of every person s being nor to promote the watching of violent films. I tend to find them more disturbing than inspiring. My friend made me wonder, however, whether there were actually resources within the Christian faith that might inspire courage and loyalty among God s people. Of course, we do not have to look far because our Scriptures are filled with them. A few examples that come to mind include Daniel and his friends, Jeremiah, Stephen, and our Lord Jesus Christ. But our faith legacy does not end with the narratives of Scripture. Christian tradition is filled with stories of brave believers who gave their all to advance God s kingdom. Their stories are told in collections like Foxe s Book of Martyrs and van Braght s Martyrs Mirror. Yet persecuted Christians were not perfect. They were sometimes doctrinally confused and needed sensitive pastoral guidance. Such was the case in Thessalonica. Lesson Background Thessalonica was the capital of Macedonia and thus a Roman province of considerable political clout. A Roman proconsul resided there, and strict measures were taken to assure cordial relations with Rome. Loyalty to the emperor was thus of utmost importance, as evident in this city s construction of a temple dedicated to Caesar and coins minted with the images of Caesar Augustus and Julius Caesar, both of whom were considered divine. In such a climate, Thessalonian Christians constantly walked on eggshells. They taught about another king and his kingdom, another Lord whom they also deemed divine. It is not surprising, then, that when the Jewish opponents of Paul s preaching had wanted to discredit him before the authorities, they used loyalty to Caesar as the benchmark: They are all defying Caesar s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus. When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil (Acts 17:7, 8). In his previous letter to the Thessalonians, Paul was looking to encourage these believers in their trials and to correct doctrinal confusion, especially pertaining to the coming judgment. Apparently, things had since become worse. In this second letter, Paul addressed these persecutions in a more prominent place, right at the beginning. Likewise, confusion remained concerning the day of the Lord. Apparently an apostle s work is never done, and we continue to find inspiration in this follow-up letter to a persecuted church. Our target passage, 2 Thessalonians 1:3 12, is a thanksgiving prayer. This is the way Paul often began his letters (see Philippians 1:3 11; Colossians 1:3 14; 1 Glory to Christ Page 3 of 11 SS Lesson for 07/11/2010
Thessalonians 1:2 4), yet it was more than a mere formality. In these prayers, Paul often communicated his deep love and respect for the letter s recipients. They also serve to establish the particular aims of the entire letter. So we must not skip past these thanksgivings in an effort to rush to the letter s main concerns. To do so risks missing the crucial context that sets the stage for the teachings within. Divorced from their context, specific verses are often misinterpreted, which contributes to bad doctrine and practice. In the Greek, verse 3 begins a sentence that does not actually end until verse 10. Keeping this in mind should help us realize that all these thoughts hang together. What begins in thanks for human faith ends in glory to Christ. Here we see that God s glory is not in competition with human effort, though human initiative that is not directed to God s glory can often end in idolatry. From the Bible Expositor and Illuminator The Thessalonian church was characterized by spiritual growth in faith and increasing love toward each other. The believers were maturing in Christ beyond what would be expected. The process was not impeded at all by their circumstances, which included experiencing severe persecution. God counted them worthy of His kingdom due to their endurance of distresses and trials for the sake of the gospel. They were assured of God's help for the present, for He had saved them and would sustain them by His grace. He receives all the glory for what they had become. Further, they had hope for the future with the revelation of Jesus Christ. Christ will also be glorified in the saved for His work of salvation in their lives. Believers are to live lives of commitment to God until Christ returns. This involves fulfilling His good pleasure in acts of goodness and works promoted by faith in Him. Christ will accomplish these things through His sovereign working in the lives of believers with His enabling grace. For this, He receives all the glory. Because they were suffering persecution, at least some Thessalonian believers apparently thought the Day of the Lord was occurring. They had been taught that they would avoid the wrath to be poured out upon sinners. Connect 1 Thessalonians 5:9 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, where the phrases "day of Christ" and "day of the Lord" occur. Paul, Silas, and Timothy wanted the believers in Thessalonica to realize that the rapture had not yet taken place, an idea that perhaps had been suggested in a forged letter. In their greeting in this second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul, Silas, and Timothy combined normal Greek and Hebrew greetings, giving a distinctly Christian tone. The letter was probably written soon after the first one. It was a positive communication. They boasted about the believers (2 Thess. 1:4), and they prayed that they would bring glory to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (vs. 12). Major Theme Analysis (Scriptural Text from the New King James Version; cross-references from the NIV) Glory to Christ for Faith (2 Thess 1:3-5) 3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; Growing faith (3) Growing faith is being built up in unity, knowledge of God, and attaining the full measure of the fullness of Jesus (Eph 4:11-13) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Glory to Christ Page 4 of 11 SS Lesson for 07/11/2010
Growing faith is progressing in the practice of using God's Word (Heb 5:14) 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Growing faith is being patient and waiting on God and His perfect purposes to work in our life (James 1:4) 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Growing faith is maturing in the Divine graces and gifts that God provides (2 Peter 1:3-8) 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Growing faith is having as our goal to "run in such a way" that we may win an imperishable crown, an eternal reward from our Savior (1 Cor 3:12-14) 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. Growing faith is fixing our eyes on Jesus who perfects our faith (Heb 12:2) 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Patient faith (4) Patient faith while we wait on God (Ps 27:14) 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Patient faith while having hope in God (Lam 3:25) 25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; Patient faith while imitating those who will inherit God's promises (Heb 6:12) 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Patient faith until Jesus' coming (James 5:7-8) 7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Patient faith in affliction and prayer (Rom 12:12) 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Glory to Christ Page 5 of 11 SS Lesson for 07/11/2010
Patient faith through endurance (2 Cor 1:6) 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. Righteous faith (5) Righteousness that comes by faith (Heb 11:7) 7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Righteousness that has been credited through faith (Rom 4:2-5) 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about but not before God. 3 What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." 4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. Righteousness that we have faith and hope in (Gal 5:5) 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. A righteousness through faith that comes from God (Phil 3:9) 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. A righteous faith that is not by works of the law (Rom 9:30-32) 30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone." Glory to Christ for Justice (2 Thess 1:6-9) 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, Justice through vindication (6) Vindication that comes from God who is always right (Ps 17:2) 2 May my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right. Vindication through God's righteousness (Ps 35:24) 24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, O Lord my God; do not let them gloat over me. Glory to Christ Page 6 of 11 SS Lesson for 07/11/2010
Vindication for those who leads others to sin (Matt 18:6) 6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Vindication that repays those who hate God (Deut 32:41) 41 when I sharpen my flashing sword and my hand grasps it in judgment, I will take vengeance on my adversaries and repay those who hate me. Vindication that only God can perform (Rom 12:19) 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. Rest because of justice (7) Rest that is an inheritance of which God will never forsake (Ps 94:13-14) 13 you grant him relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked. 14 For the Lord will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance. Rest that is peaceful and secure (Isa 32:18) 18 My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. Rest that provides relief from troubles (2 Thess 1:7) 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. Rest that is a blessing for those who are dead and who die in the Lord (Rev 14:13) 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them." Rest that is a Sabbath rest for God's people (Heb 4:9-10) 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Justice through punishment for the persecutors (8-9) Through punishment for the unrighteous (2 Peter 2:9) 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. Through punishment for an unrepentant heart (Rom 2:5) 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. Through punishment for the ungodly (2 Peter 3:7) 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. Through punishment for the wicked (Prov 16:4) 4 The Lord works out everything for his own ends even the wicked for a day of disaster. Glory to Christ Page 7 of 11 SS Lesson for 07/11/2010
Through punishment for the angels that sinned (2 Peter 2:4) 4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; Glory to Christ for Glorifying His Saints (2 Thess 1:10-12) 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. 11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Glorification in the day of the Lord (10) Those God predestined, He called and justified, He also glorified (Rom 8:30) 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. God will transform our bodies into a glorified one (Phil 3:21) 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Glorification means taking on the attributes of God (Ps 17:15) 15 And I in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. Glorification by fulfilling His work in us (11-12) Fulfilling His work in us by His completing what He began (Phil 1:6) 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Fulfilling His work in us according to His good purposes (Phil 2:13) 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Fulfilling His work in us to make us complete (Heb 13:20-21) lasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Fulfilling His work in us to give us life (Rom 8:11) 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Martyrdom A Worthy Calling (from the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary) Polycarp is the author of some of the earliest post-apostolic Christian writings. He apparently was acquainted with the apostle John and was thus a bridge between the end of the apostolic age of the church and that which followed. Irenaeus, Polycarp s most famous pupil, wrote that he heard his teacher speak of his discussions with John and others who had seen Jesus and that Polycarp had been converted to Christ through the testimony of the apostles. His life came to an end during one of the extensive persecutions of Glory to Christ Page 8 of 11 SS Lesson for 07/11/2010
Christianity by the Roman government in the middle of the second century. The Roman proconsul told Polycarp he could save his life merely by renouncing Jesus. Polycarp s famous words were, For 86 years I have served him and He has never wronged me. How can I renounce the King who has saved me? He was burned at the stake in Smyrna, where he had led the church for years. The early church from Stephen onward bravely faced death for its faith. It is a theme that runs through the New Testament and was acted out in the lives of countless Christians who were crucified, beheaded, or burned for their faith in Christ. Our self-centered age thinks of such willingness to suffer as a quaint relic of the past, but Paul calls it a worthy calling. What will be the verdict of history on our generation of Christians? Conclusion and Other Thoughts Concluding Thoughts from the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary The believers in Thessalonica had a particular calling: to glorify Christ by suffering for him. Paul gives thanks to God because these believers have previously risen to this task. Yet past performance is no guarantee of future success. So he encourages these Christians by affirming their flagging hope and lifting them before God in prayer. Our calling will look different in some ways, but in others it will be the same. We, too, have been called to glorify Christ to the point of suffering, over against the arrogant taunting of today s power brokers and idol worshipers. We too must remember that the momentum of our past faithfulness is not enough to carry us into the uncertain future. Each day we must choose anew to glorify Christ with our life, since each day we are tempted to glorify ourselves or seek to secure our identity by our own strength. We need to encourage one another by telling the stories of Christians who have remained and continue to remain faithful in the midst of tribulation. We need to lift one another up in prayer and beseech our God to finish the work he has begun in us. Christians need not consult Hollywood to be inspired by radical devotion and fierce loyalty. We need to stay attuned to the testimony of God s faithful witnesses. Concluding Thoughts from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator Our text reveals why the early church was a thriving spiritual force. The churches had the prayer support of Paul and his associates. Paul wrote, "We pray always for you." The best way to explain the rapid spiritual growth of the Thessalonians is that God was answering the prayers of His faithful servants. We often say that we need to pray in order to do the work of the Lord, which is true; but let us not forget that prayer is the work of the Lord. By praying for one another, we do the Lord's work, for He works as we intercede. Pastors especially need to heed Paul's example. The saints need more than good teaching; they also need good praying. Most pastors admit that their weakest area is consistently praying for their flock. This is an area where the flock can help their pastor. They can pray that the Lord will strengthen him to diligently pray for them. They can also help shoulder the load of intercessory prayer by diligently praying for one another. Paul's major burden for the Thessalonians was for their spiritual growth. If we limited our prayers for others to their spiritual needs, how much time would we spend in prayer for them? Most likely our prayers would be very brief or disappear altogether, for we seldom intercede for the spiritual needs of others. Intercessory prayer is usually dominated by concern for people's physical needs. The text also reveals three spiritual needs of the Thessalonians that Paul addressed in prayer. First, Paul prayed that the Thessalonians' behavior would suit their calling. God had called them to spend eternity with Him in His glorious kingdom, and they needed to appropriately respond to such a gracious act of mercy. Suppose a couple goes to an orphanage and adopts a child with serious birth defects. They raise the child and make many sacrifices for his wellbeing. When the child leaves to attend a prestigious college, he is perfectly normal, thanks to the many corrective surgeries financed by his parents. But after graduation, he does not return home; his parents never see him again. Would that be a worthy response to the loving-kindness of his parents? To ask the question is to answer it. Every Christian needs to ask himself periodically, "Is my life a worthy response to all that the Lord has done for me?" We need to pray for each other that our lives would match the excellence of our calling. Second, Paul prayed that God would fulfill all the desires of His goodness in the Thessalonians. He has desires and plans for us; therefore, we need to pray for one another that God will accomplish all that is on His agenda for each of us. Third, Paul asked God to powerfully fulfill the work of Glory to Christ Page 9 of 11 SS Lesson for 07/11/2010
faith in the Thessalonians. Faith is regarded as something that works in our lives. It needs to grow and develop in order to become more productive. A growing faith will do greater works for God. We need to pray for the spiritual needs of God's people. Practical Points from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator 1. Growth in faith and love honors God and also causes others to praise Him (2 Thess. 1:3) 2. Endurance and faith in suffering reveals true faith and encourages others (vs. 4-5) 3. God is just, but the revelation of His perfect justice awaits a future day (vs. 6) 4. As we suffer, we can rest in the assurance that God's justice is perfect and sure (vs. 7-9) 5. God's glory should be seen in us now; it will be seen fully at Christ's return (vs. 10) 6. It should always be our prayer that the Lord will be glorified in His people (vs. 11-12) Heart of the Lesson from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator The glory of God is greatly displayed in persecution. Note how that happens. Faithfulness in persecution and tribulation (2 Thess. 1:3-4) The Thessalonian believers were experiencing real persecution for their faith. Their faithfulness to the Lord in the midst of persecutions and tribulations caused Paul to give God thanks for them. He told other churches about the Thessalonians' steadfastness in the Lord in their difficult times. Through their trials their faith had grown. God was glorified. Suffering for God's kingdom (2 Thess. 1:5) Paul made it clear to the Thessalonian believers that their suffering for Jesus Christ was an evidence that they were really a part of God's eternal kingdom. There was no doubt that God's judgment of them would give clear testimony to the reality that they were united to Christ and filling up the sufferings that Christ had left for them (cf. Col. 1:24). They glorified the Lord. God's recompense to the persecutors (2 Thess. 1:6-9) God is fully aware when His followers are persecuted by those outside of Christ. He will not let such persecution go unpunished. During a believer's persecution, it may seem that God is ignoring the events. He is not! He is keeping the books. While we know that believers who are persecuted are blessed by God (Matt. 5:10-12), it is still natural and right for them to cry out for the Lord to avenge the wrongs done to them (Luke 18:7; Rev. 6:10). Thankfully, the wrongs done to His children will not go unpunished. When Christ returns, He will bring everlasting retribution to those who persecuted the Thessalonian believers as well as to all those who have persecuted believers down through time. Their punishment will be to be tormented alive in the lake of fire forever and ever. God's blessing on the persecuted (2 Thess. 1:10) While those who persecute believers in Christ will meet their end in the lake of fire, the believers who were persecuted for Christ's sake will experience fully the glory of the Lord at the rapture. They will receive the crown of life (James 1:12) that comes from persevering for and with the Lord during their trials and persecution. God never forgets any of His own; He cares for those who go through severe trials for their faith and lose their lives in the process. Many in the persecuted church today have become martyrs for Jesus Christ. Their reward will be great! Keep on being faithful (2 Thess. 1:11-12) Paul knew from experience that persecution and tribulations brought by unbelievers are not easy. To encourage the Thessalonians, Paul ended this section with a prayer for them. It can encourage believers today who are experiencing persecution and tribulation or just the various pressures of life. Paul prayed that Glory to Christ Page 10 of 11 SS Lesson for 07/11/2010
in the midst of their trials the Thessalonians would experience the good pleasure of God as they continued to trust Him. Paul prayed that Christ would be glorified through them. This can be the believer's daily experience only as he realizes it is because of God's grace that he knows the Lord personally and that no person or thing can separate him from Christ's love (cf. Rom. 8:38-39). May the believer always remember this in his trials. Glory to Christ Page 11 of 11 SS Lesson for 07/11/2010