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Losing The Losers Limp
Losing The Losers Limp
Sermon 12
The Endgame
This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We know through the recent imagination of Hollywood that many have an idea about what the end of things are going to look like.
Many think it will be a giant astroid that will collide with the earth.
Some anticipate great natural disasters will overwhelm us.
Recently, politicians have argued that we are going to destroy ourselves and this planet in just a few years if we do not drastically reduce the amount of carbon emissions soon.
Some imagine aliens coming and destroying us to take our natural resources.
The Scripture tells us exactly what the endgame is going to look like. The Bibles version of the end is not nearly as popular, nor is it liked by our culture. I believe this to be because the narrative is not one that paints any of us a heroes, neither are any of us victims. When the end comes most will be destroyed and they are deserving of it. However, many will be saved, but they too do not deserve being saved. It’s a story of grace, one that gives Jesus all the glory. In all the worldly imagination of the end, there are a few bad guys, but most humans are considered either victims or heroes. However, this version is fictions and just a dream. The Bible version is what is true and will happen as it says.
Many will shake their fist at God that day, mad at Him because it did not go down as they thought it should, but they are without excuse. The self righteous who believe in their inferior fairy-tail will surly fall. Only those who believe and hold on to the end will survive and will be rewarded a gracious inheritance this world cannot even begin to dream up.
Vs. 5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—
2 Thessalonians 5
English Standard Version Chapter 1
5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—
The Thessalonians are proof that no matter how hard things get here there is a glorious promise awaiting those who believe and are faithful.
“You will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering” (niv). This was one of God’s purposes in permitting their suffering. It does not suggest that their suffering earned them the right to go to heaven, because we know that they were saved through faith in Christ (). The little word “also” indicated that this worthiness related both to their present experience and their future entrance into God’s glorious kingdom. You find the same idea in .
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.“You will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering” (niv). This was one of God’s purposes in permitting their suffering. It does not suggest that their suffering earned them the right to go to heaven, because we know that they were saved through faith in Christ (). The little word “also” indicated that this worthiness related both to their present experience and their future entrance into God’s glorious kingdom. You find the same idea in .
“You will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering” (niv). This was one of God’s purposes in permitting their suffering. It does not suggest that their suffering earned them the right to go to heaven, because we know that they were saved through faith in Christ (). The little word “also” indicated that this worthiness related both to their present experience and their future entrance into God’s glorious kingdom. You find the same idea in .
English Standard Version Chapter 1
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
One day Jesus Christ will turn the tables and the wicked will suffer, while the believers are rewarded. Our Lord never promised us that life here would be easy; in fact, He taught that we would have to face difficulties and fight battles. But He also promised a future reward for all who were faithful to Him ().
One day Jesus Christ will turn the tables and the wicked will suffer, while the believers are rewarded. Our Lord never promised us that life here would be easy; in fact, He taught that we would have to face difficulties and fight battles. But He also promised a future reward for all who were faithful to Him ().
Vs. 6-9 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
God will recompense affliction to the lost, but rest to the saved. To recompense means “to repay.” Certainly, the wicked who persecute the godly do not always receive their just payment in this life. In fact, the apparent prosperity of the wicked and difficulty of the godly have posed a problem for many of God’s people (see ; ; ). Why live a godly life if your only experience is that of suffering?
God will recompense affliction to the lost, but rest to the saved. To recompense means “to repay.” Certainly, the wicked who persecute the godly do not always receive their just payment in this life. In fact, the apparent prosperity of the wicked and difficulty of the godly have posed a problem for many of God’s people (see ; ; ). Why live a godly life if your only experience is that of suffering?
As Christians, we must live for eternity and not just for the present. In fact, living “with eternity’s values in view” is what makes our Christian life meaningful today. We walk by faith and not by sight.
As Christians, we must live for eternity and not just for the present. In fact, living “with eternity’s values in view” is what makes our Christian life meaningful today. We walk by faith and not by sight.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.As Christians, we must live for eternity and not just for the present. In fact, living “with eternity’s values in view” is what makes our Christian life meaningful today. We walk by faith and not by sight.
This brings to mind the story of the two farmers, one a believer and the other an atheist. When harvest season came, the atheist taunted his believing neighbor because apparently God had not blessed him too much. The atheist’s family had not been sick, his fields were rich with harvest, and he was sure to make a lot of money.
“I thought you said it paid to believe in God and be a Christian,” said the atheist.
“I thought you said it paid to believe in God and be a Christian,” said the atheist.
“It does pay,” replied the Christian. “But God doesn’t always pay His people in September.”
“It does pay,” replied the Christian. “But God doesn’t always pay His people in September.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.As Christians, we must live for eternity and not just for the present. In fact, living “with eternity’s values in view” is what makes our Christian life meaningful today. We walk by faith and not by sight.
Pharaoh tried to drown all the male babies born to the Jews, and his own army was drowned in the Red Sea. Haman plotted to wipe out the Jews, and he and his own sons were wiped out. The advisers of King Darius forced him to arrest Daniel and throw him into a lions’ den, but later they themselves were thrown to the lions. The unbelieving Jewish leaders who sacrificed Christ in order to save the nation (see ) in a few years saw their city destroyed and their nation scattered.
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in a few years saw their city destroyed and their nation scattered.
It is a righteous thing for God to judge sin and condemn sinners. A holy God cannot leave sin unjudged. People who say, “I cannot believe that a loving God would judge sinners and send people to hell” understand neither the holiness of God nor the awfulness of sin. While it is true that “God is love” (), it is also true that “God is light” (), and in His holiness He must deal with sin.
It is a righteous thing for God to judge sin and condemn sinners. A holy God cannot leave sin unjudged. People who say, “I cannot believe that a loving God would judge sinners and send people to hell” understand neither the holiness of God nor the awfulness of sin. While it is true that “God is love” (), it is also true that “God is light” (), and in His holiness He must deal with sin.
A Christian doctor had tried to witness to a very moral woman who belonged to a church that denied the need for salvation and the reality of future judgment. “God loves me too much to condemn me,” the patient would reply. “I cannot believe that God would make such a place as a lake of fire.”
The woman became ill and the diagnosis was cancer. An operation was necessary. “I wonder if I really should operate,” the doctor said to her in her hospital room. “I really love you too much to cut into you and give you pain.”
The woman became ill and the diagnosis was cancer. An operation was necessary. “I wonder if I really should operate,” the doctor said to her in her hospital room. “I really love you too much to cut into you and give you pain.”
“Doctor,” said the patient, “if you really loved me, you would do everything possible to save me. How can you permit this awful thing to remain in my body?”
“Doctor,” said the patient, “if you really loved me, you would do everything possible to save me. How can you permit this awful thing to remain in my body?”
It was easy then for him to explain that what cancer is to the body, sin is to the world; and both must be dealt with radically and completely. Just as a physician cannot love health without hating disease and dealing with it, so God cannot love righteousness without hating sin and judging it.
It was easy then for him to explain that what cancer is to the body, sin is to the world; and both must be dealt with radically and completely. Just as a physician cannot love health without hating disease and dealing with it, so God cannot love righteousness without hating sin and judging it.
If sinners prefer to “know not God, and … obey not the gospel” (), there is nothing left for God to do but judge them.
Vs. 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
Vs. 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
Vs. 11-12 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We must never neglect a present responsibility because of a future hope. On the contrary, the future hope must encourage us to be faithful today.
Worthy
Trials do not make a person; they reveal what a person is made of. When our faith is tried, we are revealing our worth (). God certainly knows our hearts even before we are tried, but we do not know our own hearts. And others do not know what we are worth. We need to pray that God will build our worth and make us more valuable Christians because of the trials we have endured.
False converts will fall away under the pressure and trials of this world.
Parable of the sower, Mark 4:1-20