2 Thess 1:5-10. The Lord Makes the Upside-Down Right Side Up.

Class Outline:

Title: 2 Thess 1:5-10 The Lord Makes the Upside-Down Right Side Up.  

 

Tuesday July 18, 2023

 

In both places in the Thessalonian correspondence where the coming kingdom of God is mentioned, the idea of worthiness finds a place.

 

The truth is that if you live in the manner of the kingdom, you will suffer in this kingdom (the world).

 

We are not to go looking for suffering. God never calls us to choose asceticism.

 

1TH 2:10-12

You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; 11 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, 12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

 

2TH 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.

 

We do not inherit the kingdom of God by suffering; rather, we suffer for the sake of the kingdom of God and for the sake of Christ.

 

2TH 1:6-7a

For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well … when…

 

The point Paul makes in vv. 6-7a is the repayment (a Greek word for vengeance) of the afflicters and relief of the afflicted.

 

There is a reversal of fortune at the second coming.

In other words, Jesus makes an upside-down world right side up.

 

His first coming showed this, but did not at that time enforce it. While Tiberius was Caesar sitting on the throne of the world, accepting worship as a god, Jesus, God Almighty, was an infant in a manger within the borders of the Roman Empire. The true King is going to give the eternal kingdom to the poor, the meek, and the persecuted and dethrone all of the rulers of this kingdom.

 

MAT 5:3

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

 

MAT 5:5

“Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.”

 

MAT 5:10

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

 

How much we possess financially is not important. What is important is that we renounce the importance of this world’s possessions and are exceedingly gracious, counting our riches in Christ.

 

There are multiple examples of the lesser being greater in Scripture.

 

We are constantly tempted by pride and fleshly lusts to give in to the old world, the old way - to be first, to have the most, to have the biggest, to be the biggest, the smartest, the winner, the master.

 

Christ is going to reverse the contempt and hatred of the truth.

 

One of the things to be reversed is the world’s denial of absolute truth, their contempt of the truth, and their hatred of the truth.

 

2TH 2:8-10

Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

 

The greatest truth is what the future of mankind depends upon. All are fallen sinners to whom God gave His Son in love and grace so as to be saved. That is the gospel and to believe it is to love its truth.

 

JOH 18:33-38

Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?" 35 Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?" 36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." 37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." 38 Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?"

 

The truth is a foundation of the kingdom of heaven while it is a punchline in this kingdom.

 

LUK 16:19-31

"Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day.  20 "And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores,  21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.  22 "Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried.  23 "In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.  24 "And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.'  25 "But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.  26 'And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.'  27 "And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father's house —   28 for I have five brothers — in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'  29 "But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.'  30 "But he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!'  31 "But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.'"

 

The Thessalonians, must to Paul’s delight, did not concede, nor give in, nor compromise. And this will be Paul’s conclusion at the end of chapter one - we are to walk worthy of Christ Jesus’ name and therefore glorify that name.

 

2TH 1:11-12

To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.