|
|
|
-
Preaching the Living WORD through the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4:2 - |
|
|
|
GOD’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT IN PERSECUTION (Pt. 2) 2Th 1:6-10 (02/26/12) Grace Bible
Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl
Hilbert
A. In Evidence of
His Righteous Judgment (5) 1. The whole
idea of persecution is “plain indication” (e,ndeigma -
evidence, proof, or manifest token) that distinguishes the believer
from the unbeliever. 2. Suffering (pa,schō
- to undergo and experience suffering, even death) is a litmus
test that God allows to show those who are worthy (kataxio,ō
- regarded as worthy) of the kingdom of God. 3. This is a
result of God’s “righteous judgment” (dikai,as kriseōs) who gives
recompense to all depending on what they deserve. Believers in themselves
deserve the same judgment as those who reject Christ. However, they have
received pardon and righteousness from Christ, while unbelievers have
remained in their sinfulness and perdition. Therefore believers receive
relief, comfort, and strength from God in persecution (2Th 1:7). B. In Repaying
Persecutors with Affliction (6) 1. Is it right (dikaios - that which is righteous and just)
for God to repay the sin of those who persecute believers? It is so obvious
that Paul uses a conditional expression (eiper,
if indeed) that could be translated as “since.” 2. Indeed the
Thessalonians were presently and continually being afflicted by persecution.
What is meant by affliction and to what degree does affliction and
persecution come to the believer? “Affliction” (thlipsis fr. thlibō
- to press hard, make thin, squeeze, or crush externally or internally) can speak of general tribulation such
as famine (Act 7:11), captivity (Act 7:10), poverty (2Co 8:13). It can refer
to the particular event known as the “Tribulation” (Mat 24:21, 29), but it
can specifically refer to the tribulation that comes against believers for
their faith and witness (Act 11:19). a) It can
pressure and tempt one’s faith (Mat 13:21; 1Th 3:3-5). b) It can be the
pressure of public humiliation (Heb 10:32-33). c) It can refer
to anything up to and including martyrdom (Heb 11:36-37). 3. God does
“repay” (antapodidomi - to give back in turn or equivalence) persecutors
with what is divinely coming to them. Why? Because of their sin, along with
the fact that they rejected Christ, and because they afflicted His people. a) God’s
righteousness will not permit doing wrong to another (LXX, Lev 25:17). b) God will have
vengeance and retribution against sin (Deut 32:35; Psa 31:23). c) God will
bring wrath to His enemies and the enemies of His people (Isa 59:18). d) God will
respond to the cry of His people (Psa 107:6, 13, 19, 28). 4. Though Paul
will explain in the preceding verses, he states that God will repay the
persecutors with none other than “affliction” (thlipsis). He can and often repays persecutors with affliction in
this life, but He has promised to pay them back in the future (2Th 1:8-9). C. In Giving
Relief to the Persecuted at the Second Coming (7) 1. Verse 7 is
the second object of the verb “repay” (vs. 6). He will repay those causing
the affliction with affliction, but He will repay the ones being afflicted
(His people) with relief. “Relief” (a,nesis - to relax or refresh) means that
God will allow His people refreshment and freedom from the affliction at some
point. It could be in this life that God will remove some particular
affliction. However, being called to be persecuted, the believer will find
himself being persecuted in another way or by another person. 2. The relief
that Paul had in mind is the future and ultimate relief and freedom from
persecution. This will happen at the “revelation of the Lord Jesus from
heaven.” This is referring not to the Rapture (1Th 4:16-17) but to His Second
Coming, which was identified with such phrases as, “powerful angels” (Mat
16:27) “flaming fire” (Heb 1:7) and “dealing out retribution” (Rev 19:11).
The Rapture is characterized as an event of reward and reuniting with our
Lord in the clouds but the Second Coming is characterized as an event of
judgment upon unbelievers (Psa 2; Isa 26:21; Mic 1:3; Mat 25:32). 3. The Second
Coming will be the ultimate relief because it will finally be extended to all
believers of every age. It will also be the ultimate relief because it will
be at that time (and the Great White Throne Judgment) when every persecutor
will receive the retribution for afflicting God’s people. D. In Dealing
out Retribution upon Persecutors (8) 1. The purpose
of His Second Coming is made clear. When He comes He will at the same time be
“dealing out” (present participle from
didōmi, give,
carry out, hand out) His plan of punishment (8). a) “Retribution”
is the Greek word ekdikêsis
and combines the two
words “justice” and “out,” i.e. to carry out and see that justice is done.
This word carries the idea of vengeance (LXX Deut 32:35; Heb 10:30) and avenging
(LXX Deut 32:43; Rev 6:10; 1Th 4:6). His righteous vengeance, according to
His righteous standard, will be carried out upon those who have violated it. b) This vengeance is not just being poured
out because they were persecutors, a symptom; but because they “do not know
God,” the diagnosis. They are described as having not known God and
continuing to not know Him (perfect
participle - oi,da
- see or know). Not
only did they not have salvation and a relationship with God through Christ,
but they will receive the wrath of God. Why? Because they rejected and
disobeyed the “gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” To obey the gospel did not
mean that they were to obey His commandments to earn salvation, but we were
to believe and put their trust in Christ finished work on the cross (Joh
6:29; 1Jo 3:23). The very reason they were persecuting believers proved that
they were enemies of God, enemies of the gospel, and enemies of His people. c) To receive Christ as Savior, is to
receive not only His forgiveness of sins and eternal life, but to be
delivered from His wrath (cp. Rom 5:9; Joh 3:36). This is why it is called
the gospel (euaggelion fr eu-good and angellō-to give a
message or news) or the
“good news.” E. In the
Penalty of Eternal Destruction for Persecutors (9) 1. Such retribution
was described as having to pay a penalty. To “pay” (tinō
- undergo, suffer) would correlate with the affliction and suffering repaid
to the one ones who were afflicting the Thessalonians (2Th 1:6). Scripture
teaches that the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23a). 2. This payment
of punishment is “eternal destruction.” “Destruction” is the Greek word o,lethros which
means to come to complete ruin,
corruption, destruction, and death. It is usually associated with the
eschatological idea of destruction and punishment which will continue for all
eternity (“eternal” aiōnios). It is as eternal as the meaning of eternal life (Mat
25:46; Rev 14:11). 3. Here the
Scriptures do not teach Annihilationism or Soul Sleep, but an eternal and
conscious existence apart from the life of God. Eternal destruction is
ultimately excruciating because it takes place “away from” (apo, - separation
from) the “presence” (prosōpon, lit. face) of the Lord. The unbeliever will
experience God’s wrath and not His favorable presence. Eternal destruction
will also be “away from” (apo, - separation from) God’s of His power.” They will
experience the might of His anger because they have rejected His glorious
strength in complete deliverance and salvation, which only the believer will
experience. This punishment is described as hell (Mat 23:33; Luk 12:5), in
darkness (Mat 8:12), and pain (Mat 13:42). 4. This is the
final payment and affliction spoken of in 2Th 1:6. A. In Glorifying
Himself among the Saints (10) 1. God’s
glorious strength in complete deliverance will be seen on the behalf of
believers “on that day”, i.e. the day of His return which no man knows (Mat
24:36). 2. “When” (ho,tan -
whenever) He returns, He will come to be ”glorified” (endoxomai - glorified in) in the
saints. He will be glorified “in” (en)
in the sphere of and among His holy ones. His glory is manifested in the
accomplishment of saving sinful man, namely “all who have believed.” 3. Also it is
these “saints” (toi hagi,oi - holy ones) and only these who will “marvel at”
(thaumasthênai - be marveled at) Christ in His glorious
person and salvation. 4. This is the
ultimate relief that all believers, including the Thessalonians who believed
Paul’s testimony, will experience and behold according to God’s righteous
judgment (2Th 1:7).
A. We are able
to endure the expected persecution of a bold witness because the believer
will have gloriously relief from persecution when we experience and marvel at
His glory when He returns. B. We are able
to endure the expected persecution of a bold witness because we know that God
will repay all evildoers with eternal punishment. C. We are able
to endure the expected persecution of a bold witness because we are moved
with pity for the destiny of sinners unless they believe. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|