God is Just and He will Judge Rightly - Study 2/3/11
GOD IS JUST AND HE WILL JUDGE RIGHTLY
Everyone is crying for justice. Starting from the basic family unit to the national and world levels, everyone is crying for justice. In the family, children hope their parents and siblings treat them justly and likewise spouses demand justice from one another. At the state and national levels citizens are demanding justice for equal treatment and fairness from their leaders in the use of national wealth and resources. At the world level nations are demanding justice from other nations for equal treatment, respect and seeking freedom from exploitation. As we speak today there is a wave and large cry for justice in the North African countries where massive demonstrations are taking place demanding change in governments from abusive leaders and misuse of national resources. Truth be told, such demonstrations should be going on in all of the African countries and the USA and all nations of the earth.
Why the cry for justice? I want justice and likewise you. Where did we get the sense of justice and to know what is just? If you think you deserve justice, how much more do you think God wants justice? Our quest/demand for justice implies that we are just. Are we really just on our own? In our study today, the apostle Paul declares to the Thessalonians that “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” vs.6 and 7. God is the only one who is just and rightly so to demand justice. He will judge all in the Final judgment Day.
Are you ready for God’s justice and judgment? Are you willing to allow the only one that is just to judge for you or do you still want to be the judge? May our cry be “Show us your power to save us. And in your anger, remember your mercy” Habakkuk 3:2. Will you do that today and cry out for God’s mercy? This was Habakkuk’s cry and prayer in the Old Testament. God has now shown us his power to save in the person of Jesus Christ so his judgment will be the acceptance or rejection of His offer of salvation through Jesus vs.8.
2 Thessalonians 1
1 Paul, Silas[a] and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters,[b] and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
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. 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. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 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. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.
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. 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.[c]
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. We are all familiar with the saying, “I do not get over it, I get even”. It is called pay back. In the hidden parts of our flesh/soul, we all love pay back and that is why we cry for justice. Our first instinct is to hurt back those who hurt us. We want them to feel the pain that we feel. Apostle Paul is here reminding the Thessalonians that there is now a different way of living. It is the way of Jesus that says leave the vengeance for me for I will repay says the Lord. “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” vs7-8. Paul was not teaching them a prayer to pray (trouble my enemies) but rather stating and comforting them that there is a judgment Day to come.
2. There is also a reward for suffering for Christ when we endure by God’s grace as see the Thessalonians endure severe persecutions. “As a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering”vs.5. God wants us to leave judgment for him because he has the total picture. How do you know that your suffering is not the very thing that will cause someone to come to know God? That was the case for the Thessalonians. Paul reminds us that “all things work together for them that love God” Romans 8:28. Our sufferings always turn to our blessings for here and now but for sure in the life after for the glorification of God see Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians vs.11-12.
3. God will punish those who do not know him – not those who have not heard about him but those who have but have ignored him. “He will punish those who do not know God” vs.8. This includes the entire human race without exception (See Romans 1:18-21). God has made himself known to all.
4. The second category due God’s punishment is those who refuse to obey the gospel vs.8. These are those who refuse God’s invitation/offer. God has no other choice than to rightly judge them for their sins. Also included are those whom Christ refers to as parading as believers but in reality they do not know God. This is a very dangerous group and deceptive group to belong. A lot of people who go to church today fall into this group. They do not have any intention of obeying the commands of Christ. They go to church for the formalities and for what they can get out of church – the church is another networking site to connect for business, career and for marriage.
5. Notice the punishment for those who choose not to know God and obey the gospel- destruction and banishment from God’s presence vs.9. “They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might”. Separation from God is not what you want to wish your worst enemy in the flesh except Satan himself. There is nothing to be compared to it (hell) that we know. Paul through the Holy Spirit is saying, leave, delay judgment and defer to God who judges rightly. Paul has personal experience. He used to be a blasphemer and persecutor of the people of God. Imagine if the Christians then prayed for Paul’s destruction and if God had visited him immediately? Rather, God delayed his judgment and had mercy on Paul and now He is God’s instrument and servant and messenger. Do you still want to revenge immediately and right now? Think twice and pray as Jesus asked us to pray. Pray for your enemies and for those despitefully use us.
6. God is coming for those who believe. “He comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed vs.10. Do you believe? I am looking forward to his coming.
Our attitude should be like that of our Father, who does not wish that any should perish but come to repentance and acceptance of the His provision for salvation. This is why God delays His judgment. How can we ask God whom we nailed to the cross for our sins to turn around and wipe out those who persecute and offend us? God is just and He cannot do that. In order to do so, He would have to have us pay for our own sins. We should be happy that God does not answer all our prayers even the un-verbalized ones for revenge. Revenge is sweet. We cannot be crying for God’s mercy while at the same time we are asking for revenge. The Lord’s Prayer reads, “forgive us our sins as we forgive those that sin against us”. Yes, we must pray against our enemy – Satan himself. People are not our real enemies.
The ultimate judgment of God and the one He is justified to render is the refusal to accept the good news of the Gospel which is the Grace and mercy of God that has appeared to us in the person of Jesus. Hebrews ask, “how can we neglect so a great salvation”? His judgment for sin has already been rendered because the soul that sins shall die. The greatest sin now to be judged is the sin of unbelief and refusal to accept the provision of God for the redemption from sin. He is not asking us to work harder and pay him back. No, He is asking that by faith we can come to him for forgiveness and remission of our sin because He himself has died for us.
God will still take care of us despite the enemy attacks, opposition and persecutions. So our best plan is to commit all things to the Lord who judges rightly. If they refuse God’s mercy before the final judgment Day, then they are on their own. I have heard about a denomination that specializes in praying for the destruction of their enemies. They often say “return to sender or back to sender”. I do not believe this is New Testament biblical prayer if we to go by Jesus’ words and admonition.
Do you have someone who is rubbing you the wrong way now? Be patient and pray for them knowing that we all have done the same to God. Pray for your enemies as Jesus said and as He prayed at the cross. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots” Luke 23:34. Let us also pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who are really going through severe persecutions at this time for their faith. Amen.
Everyone is crying for justice. Starting from the basic family unit to the national and world levels, everyone is crying for justice. In the family, children hope their parents and siblings treat them justly and likewise spouses demand justice from one another. At the state and national levels citizens are demanding justice for equal treatment and fairness from their leaders in the use of national wealth and resources. At the world level nations are demanding justice from other nations for equal treatment, respect and seeking freedom from exploitation. As we speak today there is a wave and large cry for justice in the North African countries where massive demonstrations are taking place demanding change in governments from abusive leaders and misuse of national resources. Truth be told, such demonstrations should be going on in all of the African countries and the USA and all nations of the earth.
Why the cry for justice? I want justice and likewise you. Where did we get the sense of justice and to know what is just? If you think you deserve justice, how much more do you think God wants justice? Our quest/demand for justice implies that we are just. Are we really just on our own? In our study today, the apostle Paul declares to the Thessalonians that “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” vs.6 and 7. God is the only one who is just and rightly so to demand justice. He will judge all in the Final judgment Day.
Are you ready for God’s justice and judgment? Are you willing to allow the only one that is just to judge for you or do you still want to be the judge? May our cry be “Show us your power to save us. And in your anger, remember your mercy” Habakkuk 3:2. Will you do that today and cry out for God’s mercy? This was Habakkuk’s cry and prayer in the Old Testament. God has now shown us his power to save in the person of Jesus Christ so his judgment will be the acceptance or rejection of His offer of salvation through Jesus vs.8.
2 Thessalonians 1
1 Paul, Silas[a] and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters,[b] and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
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. 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. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 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. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.
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. 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.[c]
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. We are all familiar with the saying, “I do not get over it, I get even”. It is called pay back. In the hidden parts of our flesh/soul, we all love pay back and that is why we cry for justice. Our first instinct is to hurt back those who hurt us. We want them to feel the pain that we feel. Apostle Paul is here reminding the Thessalonians that there is now a different way of living. It is the way of Jesus that says leave the vengeance for me for I will repay says the Lord. “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” vs7-8. Paul was not teaching them a prayer to pray (trouble my enemies) but rather stating and comforting them that there is a judgment Day to come.
2. There is also a reward for suffering for Christ when we endure by God’s grace as see the Thessalonians endure severe persecutions. “As a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering”vs.5. God wants us to leave judgment for him because he has the total picture. How do you know that your suffering is not the very thing that will cause someone to come to know God? That was the case for the Thessalonians. Paul reminds us that “all things work together for them that love God” Romans 8:28. Our sufferings always turn to our blessings for here and now but for sure in the life after for the glorification of God see Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians vs.11-12.
3. God will punish those who do not know him – not those who have not heard about him but those who have but have ignored him. “He will punish those who do not know God” vs.8. This includes the entire human race without exception (See Romans 1:18-21). God has made himself known to all.
4. The second category due God’s punishment is those who refuse to obey the gospel vs.8. These are those who refuse God’s invitation/offer. God has no other choice than to rightly judge them for their sins. Also included are those whom Christ refers to as parading as believers but in reality they do not know God. This is a very dangerous group and deceptive group to belong. A lot of people who go to church today fall into this group. They do not have any intention of obeying the commands of Christ. They go to church for the formalities and for what they can get out of church – the church is another networking site to connect for business, career and for marriage.
5. Notice the punishment for those who choose not to know God and obey the gospel- destruction and banishment from God’s presence vs.9. “They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might”. Separation from God is not what you want to wish your worst enemy in the flesh except Satan himself. There is nothing to be compared to it (hell) that we know. Paul through the Holy Spirit is saying, leave, delay judgment and defer to God who judges rightly. Paul has personal experience. He used to be a blasphemer and persecutor of the people of God. Imagine if the Christians then prayed for Paul’s destruction and if God had visited him immediately? Rather, God delayed his judgment and had mercy on Paul and now He is God’s instrument and servant and messenger. Do you still want to revenge immediately and right now? Think twice and pray as Jesus asked us to pray. Pray for your enemies and for those despitefully use us.
6. God is coming for those who believe. “He comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed vs.10. Do you believe? I am looking forward to his coming.
Our attitude should be like that of our Father, who does not wish that any should perish but come to repentance and acceptance of the His provision for salvation. This is why God delays His judgment. How can we ask God whom we nailed to the cross for our sins to turn around and wipe out those who persecute and offend us? God is just and He cannot do that. In order to do so, He would have to have us pay for our own sins. We should be happy that God does not answer all our prayers even the un-verbalized ones for revenge. Revenge is sweet. We cannot be crying for God’s mercy while at the same time we are asking for revenge. The Lord’s Prayer reads, “forgive us our sins as we forgive those that sin against us”. Yes, we must pray against our enemy – Satan himself. People are not our real enemies.
The ultimate judgment of God and the one He is justified to render is the refusal to accept the good news of the Gospel which is the Grace and mercy of God that has appeared to us in the person of Jesus. Hebrews ask, “how can we neglect so a great salvation”? His judgment for sin has already been rendered because the soul that sins shall die. The greatest sin now to be judged is the sin of unbelief and refusal to accept the provision of God for the redemption from sin. He is not asking us to work harder and pay him back. No, He is asking that by faith we can come to him for forgiveness and remission of our sin because He himself has died for us.
God will still take care of us despite the enemy attacks, opposition and persecutions. So our best plan is to commit all things to the Lord who judges rightly. If they refuse God’s mercy before the final judgment Day, then they are on their own. I have heard about a denomination that specializes in praying for the destruction of their enemies. They often say “return to sender or back to sender”. I do not believe this is New Testament biblical prayer if we to go by Jesus’ words and admonition.
Do you have someone who is rubbing you the wrong way now? Be patient and pray for them knowing that we all have done the same to God. Pray for your enemies as Jesus said and as He prayed at the cross. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots” Luke 23:34. Let us also pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who are really going through severe persecutions at this time for their faith. Amen.
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