Understanding God's Righteous Judgment and Our Response

Devotional

Day 1: God's Righteous Judgment Reflects His Justice

The righteous judgment of God is a profound truth that underscores His justice. It is not arbitrary but is deeply rooted in fairness and righteousness. This judgment involves the repayment of affliction to those who afflict believers and the provision of relief to those who are afflicted. The passage in 2 Thessalonians 1:5-8 highlights two groups who will face retribution: those who do not know God and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. This divine judgment is a reflection of God's fairness, ensuring that each person receives according to their relationship with God and their response to the gospel. [00:43]

"For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him." (Isaiah 30:18, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively seek to align your life with God's justice today, especially in how you treat others?

Day 2: Knowing God Transforms Life

Knowing God is not merely about intellectual acknowledgment; it involves a relational understanding that transforms one's life. Those who do not know God are described as suppressing the truth revealed in creation and their conscience, leading to a life devoid of true knowledge and regulation of passions. This suppression results in a failure to honor God, which is a universal condition affecting all who have not embraced the gospel. The knowledge of God is meant to bring true regulation and control of one's passions, leading to a life that honors Him. [06:00]

"Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD." (Jeremiah 9:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: How can you deepen your relational understanding of God today, beyond just intellectual knowledge?

Day 3: Obedience to the Gospel as Transformative Belief

Obedience to the gospel is fundamentally about belief in Jesus Christ, which implies a life change and adherence to God's will. This belief is not just a mental assent but a transformative obedience that aligns one's life with God's purposes. The universality of God's revelation means that all people are without excuse, as God's attributes are clearly perceived in creation. This knowledge, however, is often suppressed, leading to a lack of true knowledge of God and resulting in judgment. [04:19]

"And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it." (2 John 1:6, ESV)

Reflection: What specific area of your life needs to be more aligned with God's will, and how can you take a step towards that today?

Day 4: Universality of God's Revelation

The universality of God's revelation asserts that all people are without excuse because God's attributes are clearly perceived in creation. This universal knowledge, however, is often suppressed, leading to a lack of true knowledge of God. The suppression of truth results in a life devoid of the knowledge that brings true regulation and control of one's passions. This condition affects all who have not embraced the gospel, leading to judgment. [06:34]

"For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." (Romans 1:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: How can you become more aware of God's attributes in creation today, and how might this awareness change your perspective or actions?

Day 5: The Future Timing of Christ's Second Coming

The timing of the second coming and the repayment of relief and retribution is not confined to the lifetime of Paul or the Thessalonians. It is a future event that will occur at the second coming of Christ, affecting both the living and the dead. This understanding clarifies any potential misunderstandings regarding the timing of these events, emphasizing that they are future occurrences that will bring about God's righteous judgment. [12:54]

"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." (Matthew 24:36, ESV)

Reflection: How does the anticipation of Christ's second coming influence your daily life and decisions today?

Sermon Summary

In this session, we delve into the profound truths found in 2 Thessalonians 1:5-8, focusing on the righteous judgment of God and the repayment that will occur at the revelation of our Lord Jesus. The passage highlights two groups who will face retribution: those who do not know God and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. This judgment is not arbitrary but is rooted in the justice of God, who will repay affliction to those who afflict believers and provide relief to those who are afflicted.

The concept of knowing God is explored deeply, emphasizing that it is not merely about intellectual acknowledgment but involves a relational understanding that transforms one's life. Those who do not know God are described as suppressing the truth revealed in creation and their conscience, leading to a life devoid of the knowledge that brings true regulation and control of one's passions. This suppression results in a failure to honor God, which is a universal condition affecting all who have not embraced the gospel.

Obedience to the gospel is equated with belief in Jesus Christ, which inherently implies a life change and adherence to God's will. The discussion also touches on the universality of God's revelation, asserting that all people are without excuse because God's attributes are clearly perceived in creation. This universal knowledge, however, is often suppressed, leading to a lack of true knowledge of God.

The sermon concludes by addressing a potential misunderstanding regarding the timing of the second coming. It clarifies that the repayment of relief and retribution is not confined to the lifetime of Paul or the Thessalonians but is a future event that will occur at the second coming of Christ, affecting both the living and the dead.

Key Takeaways

1. The righteous judgment of God is rooted in His justice, where affliction and relief are repaid according to one's relationship with God and response to the gospel. This judgment is not arbitrary but reflects God's fairness and righteousness. [00:43]
2. Knowing God goes beyond intellectual acknowledgment; it involves a relational understanding that transforms one's life. Those who do not know God suppress the truth revealed in creation and their conscience, leading to a life devoid of true knowledge and regulation of passions. [06:00]
3. Obedience to the gospel is fundamentally about belief in Jesus Christ, which implies a life change and adherence to God's will. This belief is not just a mental assent but a transformative obedience that aligns one's life with God's purposes. [04:19]
4. The universality of God's revelation means that all people are without excuse, as God's attributes are clearly perceived in creation. This knowledge, however, is often suppressed, leading to a lack of true knowledge of God and resulting in judgment. [06:34]
5. The timing of the second coming and the repayment of relief and retribution is not confined to the lifetime of Paul or the Thessalonians. It is a future event that will occur at the second coming of Christ, affecting both the living and the dead. [12:54]
** [12:54]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:25] - Introduction to Righteous Judgment
[00:43] - Purpose of God's Judgment
[01:15] - Repayment: Affliction and Relief
[01:39] - Focus on Vengeance
[02:15] - Universal Experience of Judgment
[03:24] - Knowing God vs. Obeying the Gospel
[04:19] - Obedience as Belief
[05:13] - Gentiles and Knowledge of God
[06:00] - Suppression of Truth
[07:09] - Failure to Honor God
[08:52] - Jewish Understanding of God
[09:48] - Hosea's Call for Knowledge
[11:09] - Judgment on Those Who Suppress Knowledge
[12:54] - Timing of the Second Coming

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 2 Thessalonians 1:5-8
- Romans 1:18-23
- Hosea 4:6

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Observation Questions:

According to 2 Thessalonians 1:5-8, what are the two groups of people who will face retribution at the revelation of Jesus Christ? How does the passage describe the nature of God's judgment? [00:43]
In Romans 1:18-23, what does Paul say about the knowledge of God that is available to all people? How is this knowledge often treated by those who do not know God? [06:00]
How does the sermon describe the difference between knowing God intellectually and having a relational understanding of God? [05:13]
What does Hosea 4:6 say about the consequences of rejecting the knowledge of God? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about knowing God? [09:48]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the sermon explain the concept of "obedience to the gospel" as more than just belief? What implications does this have for a believer's life? [04:19]
The sermon mentions that God's attributes are clearly perceived in creation. How does this universal revelation hold people accountable, according to the sermon? [06:34]
What does the sermon suggest about the timing of the second coming and its implications for both the living and the dead? How does this understanding affect the urgency of the gospel message? [12:54]
How does the sermon interpret the suppression of truth as described in Romans 1:18-23? What are the consequences of this suppression for individuals and society? [06:00]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your personal relationship with God. How can you move beyond intellectual acknowledgment to a deeper relational understanding that transforms your life? [05:13]
In what ways might you be suppressing the truth of God in your own life? Identify one area where you can seek to honor God more fully this week. [06:34]
The sermon emphasizes obedience to the gospel as a transformative belief. What specific changes can you make in your life to align more closely with God's will? [04:19]
Consider the universal revelation of God in creation. How can you use this understanding to engage in conversations about faith with those who may not know God? [06:34]
The sermon discusses the future event of Christ's second coming. How does this perspective influence your daily life and priorities? What steps can you take to live with a greater sense of urgency for the gospel? [12:54]
Hosea 4:6 warns about the consequences of rejecting knowledge. How can you actively pursue a deeper knowledge of God in your daily routine? [09:48]
Think about a time when you felt afflicted or wronged. How does the promise of God's righteous judgment and future relief provide comfort and hope in your situation? [01:15]

Sermon Clips

This righteous Judgment of God is that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering since indeed God considers it just to repay, and then two repayments first he repays Affliction to those who afflict you and he repays relief with us to you who are afflicted so retribution and relief are the repayment that is just. [00:55:44]

The Vengeance that he gives in this repayment, which is just, is one on those who do not know God and two those who do not obey the gospel and notice the focus shifts from the immediate repayment of affliction on those who afflict you that's a very small and prescribed number of people in Thessalonica who are making life miserable for Christians. [01:08:54]

Obey the gospel means believe all right because the gospel has one main command to be obeyed namely believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved so speaking of obedience to the gospel is believe fundamentally, though probably the word obedience is chosen to signify that there is in this believing the implication that life changes and you obey the wider revelation of God's will. [04:07:19]

Generically speaking the Gentiles outside the sphere of the Gospel don't know God and not knowing god lack the kind of relationship with God that would bring their passions of lust under the right kind of Regulation and control of the spirit. [05:16:82]

The wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth that's a very important phrase so even what they presume to know they suppress and in a sense don't know it, for what can be known about God is plain to them so they do know because God is has shown it to them. [05:50:88]

His invisible attributes namely his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made so they are without excuse so people are without excuse everywhere in the world whether they've heard the gospel or not because what can be known about God is clearly perceived in the creation of the world. [06:23:39]

Although they knew God so there's the fundamental perception that they have and the knowledge that's built in to their own consciences though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, which is a kind of failure to know him as they ought but they became futile in their thinking and their foolish Hearts were darkened. [06:52:68]

Jesus is saying of course there's a sense in which Jews know about God but they don't know him he says this kind of understanding was what Hosea in the Old Testament was mainly about my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because you have rejected knowledge I reject you from being a priest to me. [08:42:16]

When it says judgment is coming just repayment is coming on those who do not know God it doesn't mean that they have been cut off from access to the knowledge of God, it means that what they see in creation what they see in their own conscience they suppress and refuse to have God in their knowledge and that's everyone who is not moved to repent and embrace the gospel. [10:59:59]

Paul says that this repayment is coming by way of relief to with us to you does the fact that it says us and you imply that Paul believed that the second coming must happen during the lifetime of Paul and the Thessalonians since he says the repayment is going to be the repayment of a relief on you and us and it's going to be a repayment of Affliction on those who are of afflicting you. [11:38:04]

I don't think so first because Paul elsewhere says he didn't know whether he would live or die before the second coming, but secondly I think the main point here is not that they must be alive for this to happen but that the decisive repayment both of retribution and of relief happens at the second coming whether you're alive or you're dead. [12:25:20]

There's a decisive rest relief reward Eternal blessing for those who have been believing and obedient and there is a decisive judgment retribution repayment on those who have been unbelieving and who do not know God therefore I don't draw the inference that because Paul said the repayment would be to us and you and those who are afflicting you therefore it has to happen within our lifetime. [13:06:80]

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Understanding God's Righteous Judgment and Our Response

Devotional

Day 1: God's Righteous Judgment Reflects His Justice

Day 2: Knowing God Transforms Life

Day 3: Obedience to the Gospel as Transformative Belief

Day 4: Universality of God's Revelation

Day 5: The Future Timing of Christ's Second Coming

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Understanding God's Righteous Judgment and Our Response

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