The Goal Of God’S Call
THE GOAL OF GOD’S CALL
2 THESSALONIANS 1:11-12
The sufferings we have endured for Christ are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed in us.
Throughout the two letters to the Thessalonians Paul emerges as a man of prayer (1 Thessalonians 1:2f.; 3:11-13; 5:17,23,25,28; 2 Thessalonians 1:3,11f.; 2:16f.; 3:1,5,16,18). He assures the believers that he thanks God for them always (1:3). He now adds that he prays for them always (1:11). His prayer is prompted by reflection on the triumph of Christ in which the Thessalonians will participate. He asks God to count them worthy of his honor and to mature the qualities of life they possess, so that they may add glory to Christ at his coming.
Later in the letter Paul reflects on the origin of God’s call in its eternal character and the issue of the divine calling through missionary proclamation (2:13f.). Here the call is viewed from the perspective of its culmination. Only God can equip his people to fulfill their destiny as Christians at the Lord’s coming. God brings to birth within us “good resolves” and only he can enable us to translate these holy impulses into action. He gave the gift of faith and only through the consecrating work of the Holy Spirit does faith find its fruit in works of love.
The fulfilment of “every good resolve” and “work of faith” has as its one purpose the glorification of Jesus Christ (1:12). Paul’s formulation reflects the Greek text of Isaiah 66:5, “That the name of the Lord may be glorified.” In the Old Testament the “name” involves the character of the person designated; the son who is named “Immanuel” has the character of “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14). In Paul’s prayer “the Lord” is identified as “the Lord Jesus,” and “the name of our Lord” is his person as revealed through his word and works.
The person of the Lord Jesus is to be glorified by the magnificent witness to his grace, which the Thessalonians give when Jesus is revealed at his coming. In that high and holy moment every knee will bow before him and every tongue will confess that he is indeed Lord (Philippians 2:9-11). What will move people most to wonder will be the radical transformation achieved in those who formerly served idols (see 1 Thessalonians 1:9), but who now give evidence of the fulfillment of good resolve and the perfection of works of faith. On that occasion the Thessalonians will share in Christ’s triumph. They have shared his sufferings; they will also share his glory. This is the final outcome of “the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”