Repaying Evil, Relief for Good The Return Kile Baker June 22nd, 2025 1 Thessalonians was written to cheer up a persecuted church, and to clarify questions about Christ’s return. 2 Thessalonians was written to correct major doctrinal issues, and to confront behavioral issues. 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2:12 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy: To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, since your faith is flourishing and the love each one of you has for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, we ourselves boast about you among God’s churches ​— ​about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions that you are enduring. Faith can grow in times of peace, but it shines in times of pain. “God had one Son on Earth without sin, but never one without suffering.” — St. Augustine What Suffering Can Do #1 Suffering can give us the right perspective on life. #2 Suffering can be used for good. #3 Suffering can glorify God. Suffering is unique in the sense that we think through crying out to God we will finally have His attention. When in reality, He finally has ours. 5 It is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering, 6 since it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us. Affliction has a deadline, and justice has a guarantee This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels, 8 when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious strength 10 on that day when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be marveled at by all those who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed. God’s judges by: Bringing evidence and testimony Coming to a verdict Handing out a sentence God’s judgment brings: Relief to the righteous Justice to the wicked Glory to Himself 11 In view of this, we always pray for you that our God will make you worthy of his calling, and by his power fulfill your every desire to do good and your work produced by faith, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Next Steps Let God repay evil with justice, you repay evil with good Action: Choose someone who has wronged or wounded you. This week, pray for them, bless them, or serve them. Glorify God in your suffering Action: Instead of asking “Why me?”, ask “How can this glorify You, God?” Pray for someone who’s suffering Action: Think of someone going through a hard season — text or call them this week and say, “I’m praying that God will strengthen you, help you do good, and glorify Jesus through it all.” Next Week: The Antichrist