SAINTS SAVED FROM WRATH

The saints do not have to fear the day they stand before God, as Paul speaks of that time, “when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:10-12)

There is a difference between saints and sinners. God distinguishes between those who are delivered from wrath and those who are destined for it.  As the old song says, “Oh Lord I want to be in that number, when the saints go marching in!”‬‬ So, who are the saints?  Let’s look to 2 Thessalonians 1 for answers.

They are all those in the church. Paul writes to those “in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (v.1). We are doomed if we are judged for what we do. Our deliverance is based in what Christ has done and our identification with Him and His righteousness imputed to us by faith.

The saints have experienced ”grace” and “peace” (v.2).  It is not our goodness, for we have none. It is the grace of God that brings us peace with God.

Saints are people of “faith” and “love” (v.3). If the root of salvation rests in the love of Christ and His gift received in faith, then there will be the fruit of a genuine experience with God—namely a growing faith and abounding love.

They are given grace to persevere with “patience and faith in all your tribulations that you endure,” (v.4).  We are not saved because we endure, but we endure because we are saved.

The saints have taken up the cross. “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” (v.5).  God makes us worthy as we die to sin and live to God.  Our sufferings at the hands of sinners are evidence of God’s righteous judgment—using evil for good in our lives now—a temporal fire of refining—and storing up wrath for the wicked who seem to get by now—an eternal fire of retribution.  The former purifies saints for heaven and the latter punishes sinners in hell.

Furthermore, saints glorify God. Twice in verses 10-12, Paul mentions Christ being “glorified” in His people. Saints have found the chief end of man, “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”  Therefore, we anticipate His coming in glory with delight and not dread!

I remind you that these are not qualities possessed by a select group of Christians as contrasted to your “run of the mill” bunch of believers. The saints are all those who are saved. Saints are saved sinners. Will you be in that number?

GOD IS JUST TO PRESERVE THE SAINTS FROM WRATH

The greatest mystery is not that some will be sentenced to hell, but that any are saved into heaven.  God would be just to condemn all sinners and that is what we all are.  The saints, however, will be saved.  Notice what Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7:

“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; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,”

These sinners who are saved have become “saints,” as the Apostle designates them in verse ten. The word means “set apart,” and suggests that those who are saved are different from others.  But, “saints” does not mean a special class of Christian, as some false teaching, especially Romanism states.  The New Testament is clear that all the saved are saints.  We are sinners set apart from other sinners.  God has set us apart in election—calling us in sovereign grace unto Himself.  We are set apart from the world and unto the Lord.

The issue is, “How can a just God justify unjust sinners without compromising His justice?  How can those deserving wrath be delivered from wrath and God maintain His righteousness?  How can those fit for hell be fitted for heaven without God sullying His holiness?”

There is only one answer. God has poured out His righteous judgment that we deserve on His Son, Who freely took upon Himself that condemnation I deserve, “to demonstrate...His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”  As John Newton penned, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!”

CONNECTED IN CHRIST: Our Mutual Acquaintance

 

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19)

From aliens to citizens and from strangers to sons—this is what happens when we are connected in Christ.  According to Paul we become one with all the “saints.”  That is the birthright of every believer.  It isn’t true of a select few, but is the status of all the elect.

Saints!  We may picture an elite class of Christians—their renown preserved in stained glass or statues.  They are Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Matthew or Saint Bartholomew.  But, that is erroneous thinking.  We dare not omit Saint Bob, Saint Bill, and even Saint Dennis!  And what of Saint Louise, Saint Sue or Saint Polly?  I know a saint named Marilyn!  She is my wife—and living with me requires that she would need to be!  Here is the reality: every follower of Christ—the weakest, the virtual unknown—all are saints.

Right now in our nation there is a great alarm about illegal immigration.  It seems the borders are virtually open to a flood of aliens to enter.

That can’t be in the Kingdom of God.  The border of Heaven is barred to every alien.  None may enter illegally.  The walls are too high and the gates are too strong.  You cannot swim the river—it is too wide.  But, there is a legal way for everyone who desires to enter.  We must pledge allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ—and the moment we do, we are immediately welcomed into citizenship in His Eternal Kingdom!

It would be folly to open your house to any stranger that wanders by.  Instead we have locks on our doors and many even purchase security systems.  Leave the door open and let anybody and everybody in—and that would prove destructive to your property and deadly to your family.

The New Jerusalem is heavily fortified.  Its defenses are impenetrable.  An army of angels guards its gates.  But, all sons of God are made welcome!  Just as your children are given the key to your house, so God takes the stranger and adopts those who follow Christ into His family!  The key of faith in Christ is placed in our hand.

What we were—foreigners and strangers—we are no more.  Now we who are connected in Christ have the status of citizens and sons!  That is true of each of us personally, but is also true of all of us corporately.  Note that, “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” is in the plural.  Our connection to Christ is in context of our connection with one another.  Each of us has the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and sonship.  Those include the privileges and duties of our Kingdom and Royal Family!