The Vengeance & Judgment of God Part 1

The Vengeance & Judgment of God Part 1 | 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10

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Introduction:
Preaching about the judgment of God is not fashionable.
That is especially true if you are living in a day when the church is “marketing” itself in a way that flatters sinners.
A day of pleasant speeches, positive feelings and self-affirming lies.
The apostle Paul understood the need to teach on the subject.
And what is especially noteworthy in the case of this text is that his teaching on the subject was addressed to the church.
We tend to think about the message of God’s judgment as an evangelistic message, as a warning to sinners. And it certainly is. But we will be reminded today that the message of a future and final judgment of sinners by God in Christ is not just a message that calls unbelievers to faith in Christ; it is a message that assures the church that its perseverance is not in vain.
The message of God’s final judgment is a call to the church to recognize that persecutions and troubles in this world do not mean that God has abandoned us, or that we are not loved by Him, but rather that He is producing in us the character of the judge.
That judge, the Lord Jesus Christ, will settle all accounts when He is revealed from Heaven.
There are several points that I wish to make from our text concerning the judgment of God, but today I only have time to present the first one.
I. THE SUFFERING CHURCH AND THE JUDGMENT OF GOD (VS.5)
What does the suffering church say about the future judgment of God?
In verse 5, after praising the steadfastness of the Thessalonian believers, Paul talks about a sign.
What is the ἔνδειγμα (2Th 1:5 GNT) (plain indication - BDAG; evidence, token, proof) that Paul is talking about? What is the “evidence” that Paul has in mind?
Does this refer to their faithfulness in the midst of persecution and troubles, or does it refer to the persecutions and troubles themselves (vs.4)?
Or does it refer to all of it, both the persecution and troubles and their endurance through it all?
*At the very least we can be sure that it includes the persecutions and the troubles. In fact, from verse 5 forward there is really no more mention of their endurance, but there IS mention of their afflictions.
How could their afflictions be evidence about the righteous judgment of God, and the future blessing of the people of God in the Kingdom of Christ?
Jesus had taught that the pathway to glory would require suffering.
ESV Mark 8:31 abAnd he began to teach them that bthe Son of Man must csuffer many things and dbe rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and eafter three days rise again. 32 And he said this aplainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, a"Get behind me, Satan! For you bare not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." 34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him adeny himself and btake up his cross and follow me. 35 For awhoever would save his life1 will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake band the gospel's will save it. 36 aFor what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For awhat can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For awhoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this badulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed cwhen he comes in the glory of his Father with dthe holy angels." (Mar 8:31 ESV)
The picture is of the Son of God returning and finding a people who have not been ashamed of Him, not ashamed of His words, they have counted their lives lost for His sake and for the gospel’s sake, and as a result the Son of Man is not ashamed of them.
It will be manifested that HE HAS SAVED THEM.
THIS IS THE LOT OF ALL OF CHRIST’S PEOPLE - THEY SHARE IN HIS REJECTION BY UNBELIEVERS.
ESV John 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you: a'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, bthey will also persecute you. cIf they kept my word, they will also keep yours. (Joh 15:20 ESV)
So that, WHEN YOU SHARE IN SUFFERINGS THAT ARE BECAUSE OF JESUS, IT IS A PLAIN INDICATION OF YOUR ELECTION, AND YOUR INCLUSION IN THE KINGDOM THAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR HIS GLORY AND FOR HIS PEOPLE.
This is something that Paul always made clear to the churches - the way into the future kingdom would be the way of many tribulations.