2 Thessalonians 1:6-12
Q.1. What will happen to the enemies of Christ when He returns? Why? – (2 Thes.1:6-12)
The enemies of Christ are those who have persecuted and afflicted the saints down through history, and to this very day (2 Thes.1:6 c.f. Mt.23:29-36). They are described as – … those who do not know God and … those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus (2 Thes.1:8). God will deal out retribution to the deniers of Christ –These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power (2 Thes.1:9). Jesus told Nicodemus – He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (Jn.3:18). We are all under God’s rightful condemnation. Only by casting ourselves on the merits of the Saviour, can we avoid this. Unbelievers will clearly be damned forever. The Apostle also revealed that God will deal out retribution on those who have persecuted and afflicted the saints. There will be a day of reckoning.
Q.2. How will believers be considered worthy at the Second Coming of Christ? What is our calling? – (2 Thes.1:6-12)
The saints who join in the celebration are those who –know God, and … those who have obeyed the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. Paul urged the believers to persevere and stand true to the Lord amid inevitable persecution and ridicule (2 Thes.1:11). The saints (those made righteous through the atoning blood of Jesus) will bring glory to God, in contrast to what Christ’s rejecters do – when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marvelled at among all who have believed–for our testimony to you was believed (2Thes.1:10). The Apostle’s theme was that believers should bring glory to God and should be counted as worthy of their Saviour (2 Thes.1:5, 10-12). We do this by persevering in suffering for Christ, obeying the Gospel, growing in Christlikeness, and by being trophies (recipients) of His grace. We are saved by the merits of Christ, and then we bring Him glory by becoming like Jesus (1 Thes.1:12).