Justice

Introduction

Last week we looked into Paul’s commendation of the believers in the church at Thessalonica for their Christian growth and we saw that the catalyst for their growth was the hardship and persecution that they experienced.

We could become discouraged or disheartened knowing that we will face suffering and persecution as we live for Christ. but Paul now offers up some encouraging truths.

Yes we will deal with troubles and trials in this life but ultimately God is a righteous judge who will not allow those who trouble and persecute us to go unpunished.

We will see in this passage of scripture that the enemies of Christ will ultimately reap the consequences of their actions against the servants of Christ.

Righteous Judgment of God (Vs. 5)

The suffering of believers, and specifically their patience and faith as they endured, is here presented as the evidence of the righteous judgment of God. The fact that you and I may suffer for our faith and yet remain faithful is proof positive that one day God’s justice will prevail and all will be made right.

Philippians 1:28- our endurance in tribulation is evidence of our ultimate deliverance and the ultimate destruction of the enemies of Christ.

We must not convince ourselves that God’s allowing us to suffer means that He is unrighteous. Rather the opposite is true, He allows us to suffer because our suffering produces character in us and provides a testimony to those outside of Christ.

We are counted worthy of the kingdom of God precisely because we are willing to patiently endure suffering for His sake.

The willingness of the Thessalonian believers to suffer for Christ stands as evidence of their sincere faith in Christ which is ultimately what makes them worthy of the kingdom of God.

Those who turn away at the first sign of trouble or hardship merely give testimony to their lack of sincere faith while those who remain faithful through trials and difficulties show the evidence of the sincerity of their faith in Christ. Mark 4:16-17- the stony ground

Sincere faith coupled with the power of God will allow us to endure persecution and tribulation and thus to be counted worthy of the kingdom of God!

Recompense (Vs. 6 & 8-9)

Here Paul simply reminds the believers in Thessalonica that those who trouble them will not go unpunished.

Those who trouble (oppress or afflict) believers may seem to escape judgment but Paul assures the Thessalonian church that the day of their judgment is coming.

The persecution and tribulation that they are responsible for, they will one day experience themselves. Romans 12:19- vengeance is the Lord’s

The enemies of Christ will one day be judged receiving what is justly their due. This ultimate judgment will take place when Christ shall be revealed once more.

Notice the serious nature of the punishment that God will mete out to them. God’s will avenge you and I and every other believer who has been oppressed and afflicted by the enemies of Christ in flaming fire His vengeance will be carried out.

This vengeance is carried out against all who know not God and all who have refused to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are no exceptions, every individual who has rejected God and refused to believe on Jesus Christ will suffer the same fate.

Notice also the duration of their punishment- “everlasting destruction”- their suffering will have no end.

These will be eternally separated from the presence and the power of God to suffer alone throughout the endless ages.

What a terrible fate awaits those who reject God and His means of salvation. There is no middle ground, either we will suffer for Christ temporarily in this world or we will suffer for rejecting Christ throughout all eternity in the world to come, but we cannot remain neutral.

Hebrews 10:26-31- fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God

Reward (Vs. 7 & 10)

Our suffering for Christ is not in vain, there is a great day coming when all shall be made right and we shall be rewarded.

We may be troubled now but there is coming a time of rest when we shall be absolutely free from fear, from oppression, from affliction and persecution to be trouble no more!

The suffering of this present time are merely preparation for the time to come when we shall enter into eternal bliss. Romans 8:18- not worthy to be compared/II Corinthians 4:17- light affliction exceeding and eternal weight of glory

When Jesus Christ returns to the earth He will set things in order and never again will we be forced to suffer for our faith. What a glorious rest shall be ours free from suffering and pain for all eternity.

No longer will we be engaged in battle against the enemies of Christ, for Christ himself will conquer all His foes and proclaim ultimate and final victory.

When Christ has come and His foes have been conquered we will stand as a glorious testimony to the grace of God. We who believed on Christ will have the marvelous privilege of glorifying God and expressing our admiration of Him for all eternity!

What a glorious existence we shall enjoy as we worship God free from sin and temptation and without opposition from our flesh, the world, or satan!

At this time all shall bow before the Lord and give Him the glory due His name!

Conclusion

As we close out this passage we ought to make certain whose side we are on.

You may say “I have never persecuted anyone” but if you do not know God and you have not submitted yourself to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ you will be punished just the same.

Let we who have believed take comfort in the fact that, though we may suffer in this life for the cause of Christ, there is a day in which we shall be rewarded and all of the enemies of Christ shall be recompensed for the evil they have done to the people of God!