THESSALONICA: EXCEL STILL MORE

Persecution, Suffering andDeliverance – 2 Thes. 1:6-10

Thessalonica

Argument Against God’s Existence

Based upon “UNNECESSARY SUFFERING” God is omniscient, omnipotent, and

omnipresent and omnibenevolent He should know how to prevent unnecessary

suffering. He should be able to prevent such suffering Yet such suffering occurs Therefore, there is no such being Therefore, there is no God

What Is “Unnecessary Suffering”?

• Suffering of innocents

• Yet, is ANY suffering unnecessary?

• By what criteria would one decide what was necessary and unnecessary suffering?

• What can God do with suffering?

Facing Suffering In The Church

• 2 Thes. 1:5 – “This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.”

• God does NOT waste suffering/affliction

God’s Role In Our Suffering

2 Thes. 1:6– “For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted….”

God’s justice

Christians WILL Be Afflicted

• Mark 10:29-30 – Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters…for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now…along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.”

But God Will Repay Persecutors

Romans 12:19 – “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

Suffering Is Unavoidable

Retributive suffering Judges 1:6-7 – “But Adoni-

bezek fled; and they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and big toes….’As I have done, so God has repaid me.’”

Chastening From God Hebrews 12:5-6 – “…and you

have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.”

Redemptive Suffering

Hebrews 2:18 – “For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”

Senseless Suffering

That imposed by others on their victims.

Satan inflicted – by the presence of sin and evil in this world.

John 16:33 – “…In the world you have tribulation…I have overcome the world.”

Self-inflicted (Negative)

1Timothy 6:9 – “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.”

Self-inflicted (Positive)

• 1 Peter 4:1 – “Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin….”

Relief Will Be Provided By God

Though not necessarily in this life Revelation 6:10-11 – “…and they cried out

with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants…would be completed also.”

But When Christ Is Revealed

2 Thes. 1:7-8 – “…when the Lord will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

Bringing Judgment

2 Thessalonians 1:9 – “These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power….”

There Is A Day Of Judgment Coming

2 Thessalonians 1:10 -- …when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed – for our testimony to you was believed.”

Matthew 12:36

“But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.”

Matthew 10:15 – “…it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city….”

Acts 17:31

“…because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

Romans 14:10

“But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, who do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”