Why God Allows Suffering - 2

After the opening salutation.

The second epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians. Paul immediately plunges into his first issue of concern, which is to encourage believers who were suffering persecution for the cause of Christ. But addressing this first concern.

He also introduces his second concern, which is to give the more accurate information about the second coming of Christ, so that begins to be introduced alongside the first concern in chapter 1 and then will be addressed in greater fullness in chapter 2, but the reality of persecution raises questions about God's purpose for trials in the lives of his children, which seems to be a major problem to many people in our day.

I don't get much sensitive New Testament days. It seemed to be a major concern.

They seem to understand that is part of what it meant to become a Christian, namely, to be persecuted for Christ's sake and to continue to suffer trials in this life, but in our day, I suppose. Maybe I should say a softer version of Christianity returned to find that difficult to understand.

We seem to have this idea that God should spare us all trials and free us from all concerns and burden, so we've had books quite a few years ago now, such as why do bad things happen to good people to try to explain this as it is to many people.

How bad things can happen to people who are good sides of that short statement are wrong. Number one, according to Scripture, there are no good people all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All of us deserve.

Not good but bad. But the other part of that statement is wrong to because at least for children of God. There are no bad things that happen to us all things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to his purpose. So this whole idea of why do bad things happen to good people is entirely wrong, but it's a pretty common sentiment in our day. Paul addresses that in our portion for today so will pay attention to the apostle Paul, I think, will be greatly helped entitled my sermon today why God allows suffering and I trust that we shall see how the persecution of God's people and the judgment of one of the judgment of the unrighteous vindicate the righteousness of God. Therefore statements will take us through our text why God allows suffering under number one, to manifest our true spiritual condition. Why God allows suffering number 22 vindicate God's righteous judgments. Why God allows suffering number three to create a desire for the return of Christ and why God allows suffering number four to magnify Christ revealed glory number one God allows suffering to manifest our true spiritual condition of that takes us to verse five. The opening verse of our text for today but you'll notice that that verse picks up right in the middle of a sentence all sentence Paul wrote in long sentences sentence that were looking at today is many verses long word dropping down into the middle of a sentence when we read in verse five, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer.

And in this verse, Paul reminds us of God's righteous judgments and the Saints were the condition and the saints present suffering God's righteous judgment mark that down that's foundational, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God. We have to start their if we believe in the God of the Bible. If we believe that the God of the Bible is the one true God has revealed himself to us in his word, then we must believe that he is judgments are always righteous, never unrighteous that doesn't mean that we always understand the reason for them. That doesn't mean that we always understand exactly what he's doing most of the time we don't but nevertheless we hold onto this foundational truth that whatever God is doing in any area of life, including his judgments. They are always righteous. We can be certain of that. That's a foundational true but in this text Paul says the righteous judgments of God are indicated by some kind of manifest evidence.

Did you catch that which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God. The question is what is this manifest evidence.

What is this this revealed evidence. What is this clarifying evidence to the righteous judgment of God, and it takes us back to verse four because that's still a part of the same sentence, verse four, which also is part of the sentence that begins earlier but will go to verse four, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God.

So you put those two pieces together. The last part of verse four with the first part of verse five, and you understand that what Paul is talking about is the sufferings of God's people, and even more than their sufferings, but they are persevering endurance in the midst of suffering, and that in some way displays the righteousness of God's judgments. One translator translated the first phrase of verse five, which in my Bible says, which is manifest evidence. One translator translated this all this is evidence referring back to verse four persecutions. The sufferings of their endurance of it all of this is evidence the endurance of the Thessalonian believers as evidence of the righteous judgment of God to let me point out before we leave this thought that in verse four Paul includes both persecutions and tribulations which you endure that from last week saw a great deal of this is focusing upon persecution. The kind of things that are done by hostile enemies to the gospel, who are deliberately harassing and attacking the people of God. Persecution but is also including in this thought other trial's other tribulations.

Other types of suffering which also fits into this whole picture because it is not only how we endure in the face of persecution, but it's also how we respond to all of the trials of life, and that says something about the reality of our faith.

And that's what Paul is getting at here why God allows suffering to manifest our true spiritual condition.

Their endurance is evidence of the righteous judgment of God because he enables them to persevere in their tribulations and persecutions.

Otherwise they would not. And because their endurance therefore certifies their faith because God who has worked salvation in their hearts is sustaining them in the midst of their persecutions, then there endurance in those persecutions is evidence of the reality of their faith. They are true believers which can be seen by the way they face persecutions and other trials in the midst of this verse, Paul makes reference to this worthiness.

It's a little bit puzzling, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God and some have misunderstood that phrase to be saying that it is the trials that we endure the day because worthy of the kingdom of God no look at it more closely doesn't say those trials make us worthy it says they are that which counts us worthy, which enables us to be counted worthy or to be manifested as worthy trials do not make as worthy.

Only Christ makes is worthy. It is his righteousness, not our own. It is a sufferings not ours.

But our trials endured in a Christlike way make it clear that we are worthy because that manifests the work of God within that manifest regenerating power of the Holy Spirit that manifest the reality of true saving faith and we are therefore counted worthy declared worthy certified worthy manifested to be worthy which further underscores what I'm trying to say this point. Why does God allow suffering to manifest our true spiritual condition. The saints present suffering is a test of their faith. It is either a vindication or validation of the reality of genuine saving faith or it is a revelation of faith that is absent. In spite of whatever may be professed.

It's not those who say they are being there.

They believe in Jesus and are going to heaven. It's those who have believed in Jesus. How do we know whether this is genuine faith or some kind of superficial counterfeit.

Here's a good way to tell. That's what Paul is telling us this will tell us how do you respond to trials God's true born-again children respond to trials in faith in a measure of joy in patient perseverance and endurance because they know that our God does all things well even though we may not understand what he's doing in his truck but professing Christians who come in bellyache and shave for an adult God. Wonder how okay they can trust God if he's going to treat them so badly are manifesting what a lack of salvation, lack of saving faith, you need to hear the words of Jesus to Nicodemus, except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God's will be encouraged when you are enabled to persevere faithfully. That's not coming from you. That's coming from the Holy Spirit within you that's coming from the work of God within you. That's coming from the transformed heart and life that God has given you. Be encouraged when you see the evidence of God within you, enabling you to face trials in a Christlike way or on the other hand, be informed when you respond poorly because that's a danger sign.

That's a warning sign. You either are very immature and you need to grow out of that quickly or you are unconverted and you are lost and you are on your way to heal and you think you are a child of God.

Don't be self to see.

So why God allows suffering number one to manifest our true spiritual condition. Why God allows suffering number two to vindicate God's righteous judgment. Verse six. Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation. Those who trouble you, since it is a righteous thing with God. That opening word tells us that were continuing on. It's all connected is not a new sentence. It is not a new thought. It's all connected. This is additional information about the judgment of God. Verse five told us about the judgment of God that it is just and it is it is God dealing in the lives of his children, but this tells us something more. This tells us once again the God's judgments are just since it is a righteous thing with God. But it also tells us, is God's justice is openly displayed in a particular way, what is that by God meeting out retribution upon those who persecute his people since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation. Those who trouble you, is trying to encourage the Thessalonians in their persecutions. One of the ways he is doing that is to say just wait and be patient because the day is coming. Jesus Christ is going to out just judgment, just retribution.

Just payment just vengeance. These are different words are used throughout the passage he's going to meet that out upon the people who are persecuting you he's going to repay with tribulation repayments to pay back to pay in return is going to repay with tribulation. Those who trouble you, they deserve affliction because they afflicted Christians who didn't deserve it. Why did they persecute Christians because they hate Christ. What are they persecute Christians. It's not because Christiansen harmed them. It's not because Christians are treated. It's not because Christians had done them wrong, far from it.

Christians, it been kind Justin generous in giving and loving and yet they hated them anyway and persecuted them. So at the proper time. God is going to rain down just affliction upon those who afflicted his people unjustly. There I just affliction of the people of God is going to draw down the just affliction that they deserve and in a way that it will be publicly display what Paul is saying is the day is coming when they will be a role reversal now the ungodly are basically in charge of things in this world right.

They seem to have the levers of government. They seem to have the positions of honor and authority and does seem to be in charge of most things that have to do with with everything that this world values. They seem to be in charge pretty much of the economy, the business itself, without the God's people are involved in those things in any way, but the people who are really the ones that have the they influence are for the most part, ungodly, unconverted people, and they often will persecute the people of God unjustly for no other reason except that they are Christians and these people hate Christ.

Jesus said if they hated me. Don't be surprised if they hate you if they treated me unjustly.

Don't be surprised if they treat you unjustly. That's the way it is. That's what you need to expect because that's what's going to happen until until Christ comes back and changes everything that is going to be a reversal and then God's people are going to be in charge there going to be in the rule in the levers of authority in government and and controlling everything that's going on alongside the Lord Jesus Christ ruling and reigning with him and unbelievers are going to be the ones who are going to be the underdogs. That's going to happen that will demonstrate God's justice when unbelievers persecute Christians and then later are judged because of that unjust persecution they display God's judgments to be just you have to be pretty dense not to be able to look at that and say that is deserved.

I can see it. I can agree with it. I acknowledge that God is just God of course is always Justin's judgments. 20.

Just when he judges those sins that are more secret that are not as well-known, then a lot of times people criticize. Why did God do that. Why did God do this quite why does God let bad things happen to good people. If you could see all the wickedness going on in the lives of those people you're calling. Good people, you would wonder why God hasn't destroyed them already, but when God judges things that are not clearly see that there is this unjust criticism of God, but when God judges those who have publicly and openly persecuted his people, and then God judges those who do that the whole world must grudgingly acknowledge God's judgments righteous. So why does God allow suffering number two. To vindicate God's righteous judgments.

Number three. Why does God allow suffering. Number three to create a desire for the return of Christ. That's verses seven and eight and nine and we continue on. Still in the same sentence and to give you who are troubled rest with us. When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power, when Christ returns to things are going to take place according to these verses number one. There will be blessed relief for the righteous blessed rest for the righteous. And number two just retribution for the unrighteous, blessed relief for the righteous and to give you Thessalonian believers who are troubled, persecuted by those in your community rest. You will be given rest you persecuted Thessalonians, you are troubled not only you, you will be given rest. The text tells us, with us, so Paul now includes himself in his missionary team.

You Thessalonians will be given rest. I Silas and Timothy other gospel workers are also going to be given rest. In fact, by extension, this is telling us that when Jesus Christ returns all God's people are going to experience rest all God's people are going to experience relief that work rest can have the idea of relief or release release for persecution release from suffering released from trials released from detention release from pressures that are placed upon us by the unjust. All of that will be over when Jesus Christ comes back God's people shopping gloriously freed from all of that but unbelievers are going to experience dreadful judgment, dreadful punishment, who will experience that those who do not know God according to verse eight taking vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Those who do not know God. Those who do not obey the gospel know there's quite a debate among commentators as to whether he's talking describing one group of people with two descriptions or is describing two different groups of people. Some say he's talking about two different kinds of people. Number one.

Those who do not know God and number two. Those who do not obey the gospel. In other words, those who have not been exposed to God's word. The heathen that many people in the world today. Never heard of Jesus Christ will be included in this judgment.

How can that be never heard of Christ read Romans chapter 1 understand that God has given to all people everywhere, a great deal of revelation about himself. And if that is rejected they are guilty of rejecting the knowledge of God, but there are those who don't have the same level of no those who do not know God and then another group. Those who do not obey the gospel. Those who have heard the gospel refuse to believe it is possible.

That's what Paul has in mind here.

Others argue know he's talking about one group of people with two different descriptions. I lean to that understanding, but it really doesn't impact the meaning of text in any significant way.

It's an interesting question. Interesting sidelight but doesn't impact my understanding of the text. It's simply saying that those who have not believed the revelation they have been given.

However, little or how much those who have not obeyed the gospel.how do we obey the gospel.

I thought we believe the gospel, not obey it. Yet we find this language quite often in the New Testament obey the gospel because the gospel makes demands that are either obeyed or disobeyed God calls upon all men everywhere to repent and to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you doing that no you are disobeying the gospel gospel calls upon you to do that the gospel commands that you do the fact is really more accurate to say that in most cases the gospel is not so much an invitation as it is a demand. It is a sovereign demand from a sovereign God you are, I am to submit.

You are commanded to believe you are commanded to repent, you are commanded to obey. And if you don't, you have disobeyed one more time. Another disobedience on top of all the other disobedient, you have not obey the gospel and what is the punishment that comes upon these people. It is described as vengeance. That means full justice.

They will get no more and no less than they deserve full justice. No more God's not going to punish anyone more than they deserve no less. God is not going to let any unbelievers slip by with less punishment than he deserves. They will be punished. That word means pay the penalty by we are told everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord from time to time, someone will come along and say, well, the Bible talks about the judgment of the wicked in terms of destruction. That means that there punishment has some termination point will come to an end will be a time when they will exist no more. They will be destroyed. Don't hang your hopes on that because that's not what this means in this text is much as anything shows you the true reality of what is meant by the destruction of the wicked. Here it is called eternal destruction, not destruction that has a termination point not destruction that ends at a particular point in time. It is eternal destruction that were destruction does not necessarily mean to pass out of existence that were destruction means other ruination and the nature of that ruination is furthermore described here by the phrase from the presence of the Lord and from the face of again. We have to think that through. The Bible says God is everywhere. Where shall I flee from your presence.

If I make my bed in hell, behold, the Lord, there does the Bible say that. So how does anyone get away from the presence of God will again it's not saying anyone could actually go someplace where God is not, or be sent someplace where God is not more than God has created someplace where his being does not exist is not does not reside there because he is truly everywhere present everywhere present. What this means is to be banished from every smidgen of God's favor and goodness heaven is what to come into the full presence of God.

Are we away from the presence of God.

Now before we get to heaven over the presence of God.

We can't get away from the presence of God. We get to heaven to be in his presence to a greater degree with a greater glory with a greater fullness with greater blessing with greater immediacy with greater joy with greater appreciation and understanding of his presence and glory than any time before and will be that way for all eternity will come to an end. Likewise, those who are charged are going to be removed from any favorable presence of God, the ungodly, don't realize now how much of it of what little bit of life. They enjoy is dependent upon God's goodness in favor to them right now.

Every one of us believers or unbelievers is enjoying some measure of God's favor some measure of God's favorable presence.

God is sustaining us God is supplying our needs. God is keeping us alive. God is feeding us God is guiding as God is watching over even the unbeliever, God is enabling us to get some joy out of life. Even though the that we are to have but the day is coming when unbelievers are going to be so separated from the blessed presence of God that they will not be one sliver of goodness one sliver of favor one sliver of joy. One sliver of one sliver of any good blessing that comes from the presence of God will be removed from all of that forever and ever and ever and ever. In short, hell or eternal destruction or whatever you want, however you want to describe it is going to last as long as heaven.

Eternal destruction last as long as eternal life. Sobering matter. There's 1/4 reason why God allows suffering that is to magnify Christ revealed glory and this takes us from one part of verse seven and then down to verse 10. Verse seven tells us to give you are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire oversight and then verse 10, when he comes in that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired among all those who believe because our ultimate testimony among you was believed Paul preach the gospel to them.

Of the ones he's writing to know believed. So God allows trials to magnify Christ revealed glory, there is going to come the day of his revelation is going to come the day of the unknown masking of his full glory. His revelation he will be revealed. That word means to pull back the veil to display what is always been present in setting Sunday nights were going through the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. With best regards, study how Jesus Christ is more fully revealed in that book they almost pulled back and we see more clearly on that day he will be revealed fully.

The veil will be pulled back on who the Lord Jesus the Lord Jesus the man Jesus was incarnate Lord who is even now ruling unseen on his throne. We can't see him in his power. We can't see him in his rule. We can't see him in his glory. But on that day the veil is going to be pulled back is coming from heaven where he is now because he is God upon the throne or is he coming is coming to earth house he coming with his mighty angels, many references to angels accompanying Jesus on his second coming house he coming in flaming fire. Jesus the son evidently has the same fiery presence as God the father Jehovah of the Old Testament you have a misunderstanding of Jesus. If you somehow conceive of him as being gentler than God the father.

They are both equally gentle. They are both equally just and righteous and both will righteously judge. In fact, Jesus said that the father has committed to him judgments is not what he said in John 522 for the father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the son, Jesus is coming in flaming fire because he's coming to judge house. He coming he's coming taking vengeance, taking vengeance just judgment. He's going to exact that judgment when he comes so his revelation is going to show us who he really is veil is pulled back and will see him for who he is. He is Almighty God. He is the thrice holy God.

He is the judging God the ruler of the universe and the one before whom all must give an account we better be ready for that day when he comes is coming in his glory were we read in verse 10, which will be reflected in his saints, not reflected that his glory is going to be reflected to his saints, or by his saints. But in his saints. This is going to be the time when that work that he's been doing in us to be to be conformed to the image of Christ is going to be complete and something of the glory of Christ is going to be resident in every true believer.

We are going to be glorious. Also, not to the same full extent but to an amazing extent, the glory of Jesus is going to be reflected or mirrored in his saints, Christ glory is going to be seen in his people, so he and his glory is going to be reflected by his saints, but his glory is also going to be admired by his saints to be admired among all those who believe the word admired mainstream Marvel to be astonished to be amazed. Wonder at what we see him as he truly is.

We are going to be so astonished and were not going to be able to get over that in a moment, we make II guess were going to continue to have the same astonishment for all eternity. We will never be able to get over the wonder of the full glory of Christ, that we shall behold on that day when he comes so here are some of the reasons God allow suffering.

This is not full theology of that subject, but it sure helps us with some aspects of it. God allow suffering to manifest our true spiritual condition. God allows suffering to vindicate his righteous judgment. God allow suffering to create a desire for the return of Christ.

God allow suffering to magnify Christ revealed glory after I'd already typed my notes.

I got this email from my friend up in West Virginia without a weekly paper, and he has, quote from John Newton that says a daily portion of both comforts and crosses each one with the most should each one. The most suitable to our case is adjusted and appointed by the hand, which was once nailed to the cross for us, that beautiful read that again a daily portion both comforts and crosses each one.

The most suitable to our case is adjusted and appointed by the hand, which was once nailed to the cross for us. Let me just quickly cover two things enclosing number one does this text have anything to say about the timing of the rapture. I think it may because here the release of the saints from suffering in the just suffering of the wicked seem to occur at the same time there is no discernible interval between the rest of the saints, and the destruction of the unbelievers that both seem to be coming simultaneously.

The return of Christ. That's what this text seem to reveal. This is the only text on the subject of the Bible.

I understand that you have to take all the evidence and put together but it seems to me like this requires a certain degree of explanation. If you are going to insist on a seven year interval when at one point the saints are relieved receive their risk and not until seven years later show wicked receive their judgment, number two, and more importantly in and the only reason I bring these things up like I'm not trying to be provocative or argumentative untrained to show you what I've been wrestling with for many try to help you.

What we all want all of us want in this question of eschatology is to know what the Bible truly teaches moral wrestling with is not easy to figure it out. Sometimes were not trying to defend our position at all costs, even if it's contrary to the Bible were trying to understand what does the Bible teach. We want to know accurately and it is quite the task number two we moved to this text. A theology of suffering. Suffering is various purposes only couple of them have been touched upon in our text, but here we are told that suffering has the purpose of revealing the true condition of the hearts of people who profess to be Christians and number two it is given to vindicate the righteous judgments of God to expose the slander of critics like Joe, why did he suffer was to expose the false accusations of Satan. Why do we suffer in some part in order to in one day expose the slander of critics against our God, who dishonor and defame him and criticize him as if he doesn't know what he's doing is being unjust in what he does. This is going to display the righteous judgment of God. Are you willing to suffer in order to bring full light to bear upon the glory and honor.

Therefore, know that your sufferings have a divinely designed purpose knowing that you should be able to suffer in faith believing suffering suffer well with faith with joy with perseverance with statements of trust in God, not questions and complaints, but full trust in my gracious God, shall we pray father teachers. We are children. Father, help us, we are weak father strengthen us. We need to be strengthened for the trials of life.

Father fill our hearts with joy and hope in believing what you have told us in your word. We pray in Jesus name