Welcome to episode 26 of Grasp the Bible. In this episode, we begin our study of the Book of 2 Thessalonians, covering chapter 1. The series is called “Waiting and Watching.” Today, we discuss God’s righteous judgment when Christ returns and discuss:
- The greeting (vv. 1-2)
- Paul’s praise of the church at Thessalonica (vv. 3-4)
- Paul’s promise to the church at Thessalonica (vv. 5-10)
- Paul’s prayer for the church at Thessalonica (vv. 11-12)
Key takeaways:
- Persevering through trials is hard enough. But growing in our faith, hope, and love toward others is God’s goal for us and is praiseworthy.
- Perseverance and faith are two parallel virtues in the face of persecution.
- Our willingness to suffer for God’s kingdom is evidence that God is right to declare us worthy of His kingdom.
- God is just in His treatment of the faithful and in His judgment of the persecutors of the church.
- Those who would reject God receive as punishment God’s rejection of them.
- When we die, we don’t simply cease to exist (so called annihilationism). Rather, our soul lives on in eternity in either heaven (eternal bliss) or hell (eternal torment).
- We always act on the basis of our inner wants.
Quotable:
God is a just judge.
Application:
- How do you behave when you think that life is not fair? When you are being treated badly by others, do you want revenge? Paul makes it clear that God sees the treatment you are receiving and that one day He will impose the appropriate judgment.
- Refusing to obey the gospel means both to refuse God’s salvation and to live a life of sin.
- The fact that lost people will spend eternity in hell ought to terrify Christians and spur us on to compassionately and regularly share the gospel.
- The future promise carries with it present responsibilities. While we await Jesus’ return, we are to live a life worthy of his calling.
- There are two areas in which we need that divine strength:
- the internal and personal desires (desire for goodness), and
- the external actions that result (every deed prompted by faith).
- Christlike behavior is more important than words of praise in the glorifying of the Lord.
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