Faithful to Christ in Spite of Persecution

2 Thes.1:1-12  

3-4 Paul thanked God for the spiritual growth of his readers,

5-10 Encouraged them to persevere in their trials,

11-12 and Assured them of his prayers for them.

He did so to motivate them to continue to endure hardship and thereby develop in their faith.

2 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul wished God's grace and peace for them to express his continuing good will toward his children in the faith.

Grace (God's unmerited favor and divine enablement) and

Peace (the cessation of hostility and the fullness of divine blessing)

A. THANKSGIVING FOR GROWTH 1:3-4

3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.

The word translated "greatly enlarged," means "grown exceedingly," not just normally.  The Thessalonians' growth had been unusual. They were a model congregation in this respect. "We must give thanks". "Clearly the writers reveal themselves as men who are elated... rather than reluctant, exuberant rather than hesitant."

4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

 No wonder Paul said he recommended the Thessalonians to other churches as an example to follow. This growth had come in the midst of persecution, and this made it even more commendable."Faith" often it means "faithfulness". His readers were enduring hostile actions ("persecutions") as well as other painful experiences ("afflictions").

B. ENCOURAGEMENT TO PERSEVERE 1:5-10

5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.  

Paul explained that suffering for Christ demonstrates the believer's worthiness to participate in God's kingdom. A hot fire under gold ore separates the gold from the dross and shows the gold to be what it really is. Likewise the fire of trials can separate the Christian from the unsaved and show him to be what he really is.

6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels… In the future God in His justice would punish the Thessalonians' persecutors and give rest to his readers as well as to all Christians who suffer affliction for the gospel. This will take place when Jesus Christ returns to the earth in judgment.

9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed… Their fate is eternal separation from the person of Christ and the manifestation of His glory. Destruction'- does not refer to annihilation, which cannot be 'everlasting' but rather turns on the thought of separation from God and loss of everything worthwhile in life..."

"Heaven is primarily the presence of God. Hell is the loss of that presence."

1:10 - When Christ returns to earth His "saints" will accompany Him. Jesus Christ's second coming will be a day of great glory and vindication for Him.

 "The idea is that the glory of that day will far surpass anything of which we can have any idea before we behold it, and when we do behold it we shall be lost in amazement." Paul's readers would participate in this day because they had believed Paul's testimony when he had preached the gospel among them.

They would reflect Christ's glory.

C. PRAYER FOR SUCCESS 1:11-12

11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.

Paul and his companions "always" prayed that the Thessalonians would continue to experience purification through their trials.

They also prayed that God would note and approve their worth.

"God counts men worthy as they consent to and endeavor to do that which He works in them."

The apostle also asked that God would by His power bring to full expression every good purpose of his readers to glorify God and every act motivated by their faith in Him.

12 We pray this 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.

The ultimate goal was the glory of the Lord Jesus manifested through the Thessalonian believers.

"...Christlike behavior is more important than words of praise in the glorifying of the Lord. For praise from a life transformed by the power of the Spirit rings true and sweet, but godless living makes a mockery of praise."