2 Thessalonians 1:4-12
Much is made in the pulpit of the “righteous judgment of God”. It is often preached as a warning against sin in the church, stated that it will come, “and that right early”, if we do not remove sin from the camp.
The statement is used twice in the entire Word of God, coming first in Romans 2:5, “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.” The context of this usage is that if you “obey the truth” (verse 8), you will be spared, but if you do not, then God will judge both Jew and Gentile with “no respect of persons” (verse 11). Simply stated, Paul is talking to sinners.
The second and final usage of “the righteous judgment of God” is found in 2 Thessalonians 1:5. In other places, this same Greek word for “judgment” is rendered “damnation”, “accusation” and “condemnation”. We know that there is no condemnation to the believer because of their faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:1), and we know that God cannot be righteous if He condemns a Christian (Romans 3:26). Therefore, we must look at the context to see if it is the believer that is being judged.
Paul starts by speaking of the persecutions and tribulations that the church had been enduring (verse 4), and then verse 5 says, “Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God”. Look closely at your Bible, as the words “Which is” are italicized, meaning that they were added by the translators. These two words seem to emphasize the persecutions and tribulations as being from God as judgment to the believer, however, the next verse tells us that “it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you” (2 Thessalonians 1:6). God’s righteousness is not in judging the saint with persecutions and tribulations; that is the job of “them that trouble you”. God is righteous however, in paying back those who trouble you, for “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19).
By verse 8, Paul is now showing us the wrath of God towards them who reject Him. Even this judgment is not until the return of Christ, but it includes “flaming fire”, and “everlasting destruction” (verse 9). None of these judgments are aimed at the believer. In fact, Christ will come to “be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe” (1:10).
Believer, do not blame your sickness, or your problems on the righteous judgment of God. He is not “putting you through it” to teach you a lesson. These lies about God have been spread for centuries by Satan, who wants the believer to doubt that God loves them and that He is truly on their side. He has prepared all good things for you, not wicked things. He does not hurt, maim and kill His children so that they will obey Him. You wouldn’t do these things to your child, and God will not do these things to you.
If you are in the midst of persecutions and trials, appeal to your Father for rest and comfort, but do not condemn yourself, believing that God is paying you back. You may very well be suffering for the kingdom’s sake, but that is because the enemy hates you, and does not want you free.
Take your stand in the liberty of Christ today, confident that God is not against you, but for you!
Much is made in the pulpit of the “righteous judgment of God”. It is often preached as a warning against sin in the church, stated that it will come, “and that right early”, if we do not remove sin from the camp.
The statement is used twice in the entire Word of God, coming first in Romans 2:5, “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.” The context of this usage is that if you “obey the truth” (verse 8), you will be spared, but if you do not, then God will judge both Jew and Gentile with “no respect of persons” (verse 11). Simply stated, Paul is talking to sinners.
The second and final usage of “the righteous judgment of God” is found in 2 Thessalonians 1:5. In other places, this same Greek word for “judgment” is rendered “damnation”, “accusation” and “condemnation”. We know that there is no condemnation to the believer because of their faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:1), and we know that God cannot be righteous if He condemns a Christian (Romans 3:26). Therefore, we must look at the context to see if it is the believer that is being judged.
Paul starts by speaking of the persecutions and tribulations that the church had been enduring (verse 4), and then verse 5 says, “Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God”. Look closely at your Bible, as the words “Which is” are italicized, meaning that they were added by the translators. These two words seem to emphasize the persecutions and tribulations as being from God as judgment to the believer, however, the next verse tells us that “it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you” (2 Thessalonians 1:6). God’s righteousness is not in judging the saint with persecutions and tribulations; that is the job of “them that trouble you”. God is righteous however, in paying back those who trouble you, for “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19).
By verse 8, Paul is now showing us the wrath of God towards them who reject Him. Even this judgment is not until the return of Christ, but it includes “flaming fire”, and “everlasting destruction” (verse 9). None of these judgments are aimed at the believer. In fact, Christ will come to “be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe” (1:10).
Believer, do not blame your sickness, or your problems on the righteous judgment of God. He is not “putting you through it” to teach you a lesson. These lies about God have been spread for centuries by Satan, who wants the believer to doubt that God loves them and that He is truly on their side. He has prepared all good things for you, not wicked things. He does not hurt, maim and kill His children so that they will obey Him. You wouldn’t do these things to your child, and God will not do these things to you.
If you are in the midst of persecutions and trials, appeal to your Father for rest and comfort, but do not condemn yourself, believing that God is paying you back. You may very well be suffering for the kingdom’s sake, but that is because the enemy hates you, and does not want you free.
Take your stand in the liberty of Christ today, confident that God is not against you, but for you!
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