“[The Lord] will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction.”

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9a
Part of believing the gospel is obeying the gospel. The two go hand-in-hand. Paul refers to obeying the truth (see Romans 2:8) and the law of faith (see Romans 3:27). Sometimes in our zeal to highlight God’s grace and His gift of salvation which we cannot earn, we neglect to speak about our necessary obedience to the gospel. The promise of the gospel has a legal basis in the covenant of grace, and that covenant has requirements to be fulfilled.

This does not, however, make the law of faith and the law of works equivalent. Nor is obedience to them the same. The law of works requires that we fulfill the law perfectly, a task not one of us can do on our own. The law of faith requires that we receive as a gift the law fulfilled perfectly for us by Christ.

What Paul is saying about judgment is that those who have refused to rest in the payment Christ gave for their sins will suffer for their sins themselves. It’s a strong warning to not reject the gospel. It’s also a powerful reminder of the amazing grace we have in Him.



Scripture Focus

2 Thessalonians 1:8-10

Insight

“You cannot repent too soon, because you do not know how soon it may be too late.” (Thomas Fuller, 1608-1661)

Bible In A Year

  • 2 Kings 24-25
  • Proverbs 23
  • Jude

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