Title: THE TRANSFORMING GLORY OF CHRIST

Focus: In order to grow and persevere in faith, the Scriptures call us to filter all of life through the transforming glory of Christ

Function: To encourage the people to continue their Christian pilgrimage by focusing on the transformative power and glory of Christ.

Text: II Thessalonians 1:1-12

I will begin with two observations and questions: There are countless stories and newspaper reports about Christians fleeing and dying on account of their faith in Christ. In countries such as, for example, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Nigeria, North Korea, and China, evangelical Christians suffer on account of their faith. What moves them to risk their lives for Christ?

Here is my next observation: Many Christians today, especially in the Western world, want what they call a “relevant faith.” They want the Bible’s teaching to speak to them today. That’s a wonderful thing to look for.

In contemporary jargon, however, a “relevant faith” means for many that church worship services, preaching and teaching are in tune with the prevailing pop and entertainment culture. Anything in church and worship that appeals to and resonates with the cultural and entertainment senses of their non-churched friends or neighbors qualifies as “relevant.” So here is my second question: What’s wrong with such a notion of “biblical relevance”?

The answer to both questions (the one about the willingness to face hardship and death, and the other about so-called “relevant” faith) is found in today’s Scripture reading: In order to grow and persevere in faith, the Scriptures call us to filter all of life through the transforming glory of Christ.

And that’s why I want to encourage us all to continue our walk with Christ and our Christian journey of faith by centering our daily living and experience on the transformative power and glory of Christ.

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The Apostle Paul is writing to Christians in the city of Thessalonica. They are recent converts to the Christian faith; they are learning to walk by faith, and they are experiencing tremendous hardship and persecution at the hands of their unbelieving neighbors. Paul, Silas and Timothy stay in contact with these early Christians. And today’s reading is from Paul’s second letter written to them.

Let’s consider the movement or flow of that first chapter, as well as the golden thread that unifies the passage. After identifying himself and his fellow workers, Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica by focusing on three things. First, Paul gives thanks to God. Listen: (vs. 3, 4) “We ought always to thank God for you…because your faith is growing more and more, and the love everyone of you has for each other is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.”

Here we note that life for these Christians in Thessalonica was one of hardship. To be a Christian in that town was dangerous. You could lose your job, your friends, and even your life. (Paul, for example, had to flee the town of Thessalonica to save his hide). We also note, however, that the church members in Thessalonica are growing in their faith and Christian conduct. They continued in living out their faith and in showing their love for each other. They remained strong and steadfast together. And Paul gives thanks to God for working such faith and love and perseverance in the church of Thessalonica.

Secondly, Paul moves from thanksgiving to identifying and defending God’s justice. In verses 5-10, for example, he writes: (Your perseverance, faith and love) is “evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.”

Now here we have an insight that is highly unpopular today: suffering is to be expected. Hardship and trouble are connected to the kingdom of God. Teaching and preaching and worship that avoids this side of the Christian faith is NOT relevant but totally oblivious to the gospel and work of God in the world today.

Paul goes on, appealing to and revealing God’s justice, saying: “God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well.” Paul finishes his appeal to God’s justice by pointing to God’s judgment of eternal destruction in contrast to eternal life for all God’s saints or “holy people.”

Thirdly, moving from giving thanks to identifying and defending God’s justice, Paul then concludes his chapter by praying for God’s power. Paul prays that God’s power may be revealed in the lives of these Christians. He says, “…we constantly pray for you that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith….” Such is the flow or movement of the passage.

Here is the golden thread—that is, the thread that holds together or unites this entire passage. It is the thread of the transforming glory of Jesus Christ. As Paul encourages these Christians in their daily walk of faith, he holds before them brilliance and majesty—the glory of Jesus. And that glory of Christ is the framework or glasses through which we are to filter all of life.

Note, for example, how the inspired Apostle weaves the golden thread of the transforming glory of Christ: While identifying and defending God’s justice, Paul writes (vs. 6,b, 7) “(God) will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.” Clearly, all will see the awesome and terrifying glory of Christ when he comes again.

That golden thread of glory shows up in vs. 10 again where Paul refers to the final coming of Christ, saying, “…he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed.” Here we notice that Christ’s glory will be revealed in us—in all who belong to Christ. Like Moses on Mt. Sinai, like Christ on the Mt. of Transfiguration, we shall be transformed. Our dust or mortal bodies shall be raised, transformed, and glorified.

This transformation will be in contrast to the dark and dismal destruction or punishment of those “…who do not know God and (who) do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” For Paul says (vs. 9) “They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power….” In other words, the glorious, transformative presence and power of Christ will only touch and glorify the people of God. The glory of heaven will not show up in the dark confines of hell.

The golden thread of Christ’s transformative glory pulls the passage together in that final verse (vs. 12) “We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” And that’s why I maintain that in order to grow and persevere in faith, the Scriptures call us to filter all of life through the transforming glory of Christ.

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So now let me bring out three factors that we can directly apply to Christian living today: there is the growth factor of hardship; the relevance factor of glory; and the destination factor of heaven and hell.

(1) The Growth Factor of Hardship: When we encounter opposition to the Christian faith, we must not despair. Rather, when we experience sadness and suffering because of loss of life or limb, we must seek God’s hand in the midst of sorrow and pain. When we wrestle with doubts and unanswered prayers, we must not give up, but recognize that God uses hardship as a way of testing and disciplining and sanctifying us.

Look for God’s hand in hardship and suffering. Why? Because trials of all sorts are a factor of Christian growth. Listen: (vs. 3) “We ought always to thank God for you…because your faith is growing more and more, and the love everyone of you has for each other is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.” It may be hard to swallow, but hardship is a factor of Christian growth. Now take note of the

(2) The Relevance Factor of Glory: at the beginning of my message, I asked what was wrong with the prevailing notion about “biblical relevance” in so-called contemporary preaching, teaching and worship. Here’s the answer: the glory of Christ Jesus, and the glory of Christ that is to be revealed in us when Christ comes again at the end of time—that glory is transformative for us today. In other words, the future glory to be revealed empowers, motivates, stirs and moves us today.

It was not the latest Christian gladiator mantra or the latest show-biz attraction or adaptation that made worship in the church of Thessalonica popular.

It was not the latest titillating testimony of a converted prostitute in Thessalonica that led to the increase of mutual love among the members of the church in Thessalonica.

Rather, it was the future, transformative glory of Christ that steeled and strengthened the faith of the Christians in Thessalonica.

It was not the latest cultural dress code or the latest coffee Espresso drink percolated in the house churches of Thessalonica that led to the increase of faith.

Rather, it was the future glory of Christ Jesus that transformed and empowered the church in Thessalonica. If the church is going to be relevant in her faith and worship and practice, then our focus must be on that future, transformative glory of Christ.

Here is one more factor for transformative, relevant, Christian living:

(3) The Destination Factor of Heaven and Hell: Those who have an aversion to think about hell and those who disdain a “pie-in-the-sky” Christianity will shrink away from this factor. But the Scriptures make clear that the future reality of heaven’s glory and hell’s destruction is a motivating factor for vibrant, Christian living.

Hell and destruction point to God’s justice. Heaven and glory point to God’s mercy. Heaven and hell—they are the final destinations for all of humanity. All must face the fundamental question: Will we enter eternal life on a restored creation, encountering the blazing glory of Christ? Or will we enter eternal damnation, encountering darkness and being shut out from the presence of the Lord?

These three factors—the growth factor of hardship, the relevance factor of glory, and the destination factor of heaven and hell—moved the church in Thessalonica to grow strong in faith and love.

I pray that these factors also move us today. And I pray especially that we learn to filter all of life—all our living through the transforming glory of Christ that is to be revealed in due time.

So be transformed and encouraged to grow and persevere in your walk with Christ today as you focus on that future glory.

Glory be to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Now and always! Amen