Obey the Gospel! “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. “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” (2 Thess. 1:3-12). This inspired and inspiring text teaches us that on that day when Jesus comes back… 1) God’s judgment will be verified. At times in this life, it looks like Christians are on the losing end. These young disciples in Thessalonica encountered Satan and his unwitting minions on the attack almost as soon as they obeyed the gospel (Acts 17:4-8). They suffered persecution and afflictions from the get go. Did God care? Would their steadfastness and faith be worth it? On that day when Jesus comes back, God will make everything right. No doubt will be left about who had God’s approval. 2) Faithful Christians will be gratified. They obeyed the gospel. The good news begins with Jesus’ death for our sins, his burial, his resurrection, and his post-resurrection appearances (1 Cor. 15:1-8), but it gives us something to do, too. It can be obeyed. It must be obeyed. Jesus told us where it starts: “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). That makes a person a Christian, and growing faith and increasing love keep a person obedient to the gospel. And what is the result on that day when Jesus comes back? Rest and relief, hearing the Master’s “Well done,” and the feeling that heaven was surely worth it all. 3) Stubborn sinners will be horrified. Some choose to make it hard on Christians. Some refuse to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Some simply try to ignore God. But on that day when Jesus comes back, it all hits home. Against them Jesus will come in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance, announcing eternal punishment and banishment from the presence of the Lord. People who would never listen to Jesus will fall at His feet, but it will be too late. 4) The Lord Jesus will be glorified. That day is our goal and the goal of all history. To see Jesus in all His glory, to see Him treated as He ought always to be treated, and to be on His winning side will be something without comparison in this life. Obey the gospel today! Obey the gospel every day! Danny Boggs
Posted on: Tue, 06 May 2014 19:40:28 +0000
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