“This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—” (2 Thessalonians 1:5 (ESV)
In discussing the problem of evil, a pastoral mentor expressed and explained the subject as follows: “God exists, evil exists, God wills evil to exist.” In defining evil, it is everything God is not. Evil is wickedness, sinfulness, immorality, and criminality.
There are also several categories for evil. First, there is physical evil. Examples include disease, illness and natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes and floodings. Second, there is moral evil. This is behavior God calls sin. This involves individuals doing what God commands they shouldn’t and not doing what God commands they should (I John 1:1-10). Third, there is spiritual evil (Eph. 2:1-3). The battle against the fallen world, the believer’s renaming sinful nature or flesh and the devil is what the Bible calls spiritual warfare (2 Cor. 10:3-6; Eph. 6:10-20). Finally, there is eternal evil, which is the literal existence, and punishment for sin, in hell (Matt. 5:21; 10:28; Rev. 20:7-15).
Concurrent with the subject of evil is the subject of suffering. Suffering, sorrow, grief and pain are the results of evil. Therefore, God exists, suffering exists, and God wills suffering to exist.
Respectively, there is physical suffering, moral suffering, spiritual suffering and eternal suffering. With the exception of eternal suffering for unbelievers, all believers in Christ experience the first three categories of suffering; although not all believers suffer in the same way or measure (John 16:33). The suffering believers’ experience is ultimately for our good and God’s glory (Rom. 5:1-10; James 1:2-4; I Peter 1:3-7).
The word suffering (πάσχετε; paschete), which the Apostle Paul spoke of in today’s text, involved the first three categories. The Thessalonians experienced physical, moral and spiritual suffering for their faith in Christ, their steadfastness of hope, and love for one another (I Thess. 1:3; 2 Thess. 1:3-4). The church today experiences the same sort of suffering.
“Suffering—none of us really wants it, and so often we find ourselves perplexed when we endure it. Have we done something to deserve such pain? Is there any hope that it will end? Is there meaning to it? We might even believe that if we trust in Christ, things will go easier for us—that we will experience less suffering,” explains one biblical commentator.
“A quick survey of the Word of God should disabuse us of the notion that following Jesus means we will suffer less. After all, Jesus Himself says that persecution will follow His disciples (Mark 10:29–30). Scripture, in fact, gives Christians a distinctive theology of suffering, a significant component of which is found in today’s passage.”
“This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God.” Evidence (ἔνδειγμα; endeigma) refers to proof and verification something is true. Righteous (δικαίας; dikaias) means just and proper. Judgment (κρίσεως; kriseos) is a legal verdict, sentence and decision in a court of justice. What do these apparent legal and judicial terms have to do with the suffering of, and by, the believer in Christ?
Believers in Christ will suffer because of their faith, hope and love for the Lord and for one another. This evidences the imputed righteousness God the Father credited to them by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone (Rom. 3:21-26; 4:1-25; 5:1-5).
“This is the “righteous judgment of God” presented in 2 Thessalonians 1:5. It is righteous for God to consider us worthy of His kingdom for which we suffer because we are in Christ and Christ’s worth is ours. Our willingness to suffer for the sake of Jesus, then, confirms the justice of God’s declaration because it demonstrates that we have put our faith in Jesus (James 2:14–26). God is just to declare righteous all those who receive the righteousness of Jesus through faith in Him alone, and our suffering for His sake confirms that we have received that righteousness through faith,” comments Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“That you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God,” The extended phrase “you may be considered worthy” (καταξιωθῆναι; kataxiothenai) means to be deserving of merit and value. No sinner should consider themselves worthy of God’s grace and mercy. The moment we believe we deserve God’s grace and mercy is when we cease to understand grace and mercy. However, it is because of God’s grace and mercy in Christ that He counts believers worthy and valuable.
The kingdom (βασιλείας; basileias) of God (θεοῦ; theou) is God the Father’s sole rule and reign over His creation. It is an authority to rule solely originating from Him and is solely sourced in Him. The believer’s submission to God’s rule and reign, even in the midst of personal suffering, evidences such an individual is a member of the kingdom of God and God is truly their King.
“Paul clearly does not mean that by our suffering we make ourselves worthy of God’s kingdom in the sense of meriting our citizenship in heaven. We are saved by grace through faith, not our own good works (Eph. 2:8–9). The only One worthy of God’s kingdom is Christ, who merited that kingdom for Himself through His perfect life, death, and resurrection (Rom. 3:21–4:25; 5:12–21),” continues Dr. Sproul.
“However, when we trust in Christ alone for salvation, we become worthy of God’s kingdom because Jesus’ perfection is put on our accounts. In other words, Christ’s good works are imputed to us, God sees those works, and He declares us righteous and worthy of heaven (2 Cor. 5:21).”
Believers in Christ become imputably worthy because Jesus Christ is inherently and eternally worthy (Rev. 5:6-14). We imputably receive the worthiness of Christ as our own. This is justification (Rom. 5:1).
“A life worthy of God (I Thess. 2:12), of God’s calling (2 Thess. 1:11; Eph. 4:1), of the Lord (Col. 1:10), of the Gospel (Phil. 1:27-28), or of the kingdom (2 Thess. 1:5) is a life of patient, joyful discipleship even in the face of life-threatening abuse from those hostile to the faith (Matt. 5:10-12; Acts 5:41). Such lives are sure evidence that God’s judgment is right,” concludes Dr. Sproul.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord, even in the midst of your suffering. He counts you worthy in Christ.
Soli deo Gloria!
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