Doing Now What We Will Do Then

Introduction:

We have recently seen Paul assure the Thessalonians that the return of Jesus remains yet future.

He has accomplished this by relying on two chapters of Isaiah for explaining Jesus’ apocalypsis:

The parallels have been important for this section and for the one to come.

The fulfillment of those promised times of God’s exaltation of himself over arrogant man and all gods will come to pass in the return of Jesus.

In this message, we should think deeply about the responsibility God’s future glorification in us places upon us now.

We will also be reminded of Paul’s pastoral concern for the Thessalonians.

We are a people caught between two worlds.

This one to which, in Christ, we no longer belong.

The one to come which we do not yet inhabit.

Pastoral Prayer for God’s Completed Work

Paul had a significant bond with the Thessalonians.

He expressed this most intimately in 1 Thess. 2.

As he brings the introduction of the letter to a close, he assures them of his consistent habit of praying for them.

This prayer seems dictated (Εἰς ὃ καὶ) by Paul’s knowledge of Christ’s future glorification.

This phrase seems to throw back the thought to at least 2 Thess. 1:10.

Paul often tells his letter recipients that he prays for them.

ἵνα expresses, so it seems, both the content, and thus the long term goal that motivates Paul’s prayer.

τῆς κλήσεως: refers at a minimum to the call of salvation that will be fully realized upon Christ’s coming.

It is more than just salvation, though.

It includes God’s future vindication, his righteous judgment of those who bring tribulation upon his own people.

It also includes the lifestyle of the believer.

Paul portrays God as the active agent in making his people worthy “of the call.”

Spiritual growth and maturity that leads to faithfulness comes from God himself.

Paul also prays for God to “fulfill all pleasing of goodness and work of faith in power.”

Pleasure of Goodness would refer to the Thessalonians approving of goodness in the same way God views goodness.

This would correspond to “a work of faith.”

Faith defines or characterizes the “work” of the Thessalonians.

Instead of becoming an embittered people who return to their former way of life, Paul knows that it is God who, in his power, enables His people to grow clearer about what goodness is and to obey Him as faith itself dictates we do.

Purpose for the Present

Paul explains to the Thessalonians the purpose of all this.

He does not tell them of prayers that have no current implications for their actual lives.

Christ is coming “to be glorified in his saints and to be marveled at in those who believe.” (2 Thess. 1:10).

Right now, however, Paul longs to see the name of God enhanced (glorified) by the goodness and obedience of the Thessalonians.

In his view, God’s call is not merely to salvation. It is a call to a life of total submission in recognition of God’s glory. Underlying our faith in the efficacy of Jesus’ death and resurrection should be the recognition of God’s person and of our personal need to show him the respect that He deserves.

Paul wanted to see the Thessalonians do now, glorify Christ, what will be realized in its fulness when Christ returns.

Also, there could be an elevated view of the Thessalonians’ character through their loyalty to Christ.

All of this would be “according to the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.”