Destined For Glory | 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15

Scripture

• 2 Thessalonians 2:13–15

About this sermon

Introduction: The grace of God, the mercy of God, the love of God, the unmerited kindness of God, is always best understood — it is most clearly recognized — against the backdrop of God’s holiness, and His just judgment. OUR SINS DESERVE HIS WRATH. The world of lost humanity will meet with His wrath. God could have justly LEFT US in our lost and delusional spiritual state, in which we would have justly belonged to those who meet with His wrath. But instead. He has saved us. We are safe from His wrath. We are destined to obtain the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. ALL OF THIS IS REASON FOR PRAISE. ALL OF THIS MAGNIFIES GOD’S GLORIOUS GRACE. Whenever you meet a believer, God must be thanked. God’s grace is not something ABSTRACT. God’s grace is as real as the believer sitting in these seats. GOD’S GRACE IN SALVATION IS SEEN BY THE PEOPLE OF SALVATION. And that is what Paul celebrates in our verses. I. A CONSTRAST WORTHY OF PRAISE (vs.8-13a) He begins verse 13 with a contrast. And the contrast has to do with Paul’s own thoughts about the Thessalonians, in view of what he has just taught them. And by extension, HE IS ALSO TEACHING THEM HOW TO THINK ABOUT THEMSELVES. He had just protected them from the deceptive practices of false teachers who were suggesting that they were living in the day of the Lord. He has made clear that they are not in the day of the Lord, because the apostasy and the man of lawlessness MUST COME FIRST. He has reminded them that God is sovereign over these things. Sovereign over the unveiling of that man — the Spirit of God restrains him. Sovereign over the duration of that man — the appearing of Christ will destroy him. Sovereign over the results of the activity of that man — those who perish are those who will be deceived. And he has made clear that the results will be God’s just judgment upon those who have rejected the truth and taken pleasure in unrighteousness. BUT NOW HE CONTRASTS THEIR SITUATION, THEIR CONDITION, THEIR FUTURE, WITH THE DARK REALITY OF FUTURE JUDGMENT. THEY AREN’T DESTINED FOR JUDGMENT! There are those who belong to the darkness, but the Thessalonian Christians belong to the light. There are those who take pleasure in unrighteousness, but the Thessalonian Christians take pleasure in the truth. There are those who follow antichrist, but the Thessalonian Christians love and follow Jesus. THESE BELIEVERS ARE BELOVED OF THE LORD (vs.13). THESE BELIEVERS BELONG TO THE FAMILY OF GOD — THEY ARE BROTHERS (vs.13). When Paul considers judgment, he knows it is to the glory of God’s sovereign will. When Paul considers the church, he knows it is to the praise of God’s sovereign grace. IT IS FITTING THAT HIS PRAISE FOR THEM GOES TO GOD. HE IS BOUND BY WHAT IS RIGHT TO GIVE THANKS TO GOD ON THEIR BEHALF. HE IS COMPELLED TO GIVE THANKS ALWAYS TO GOD FOR THIS CHURCH. The sinner’s judgment is explained by man’s sin. The Christian’s deliverance is explained by God’s grace. II. A CONVERSION WORTHY OF PRAISE (vs.13b) But how did they come to be in this position? HOW IS IT THAT THEY DO NOT BELONG TO THE WORLD OF HUMANITY ON ITS WAY TO JUDGMENT? HOW WAS IT THAT THEY WERE DELIVERED FROM LIVING UNDER THE DELUSION OF SIN? Their deliverance is explained by God’s work of conversion in their lives. THEY TURNED. THEY WERE CHANGED.

Topics

• Worship