Monday, 25 September 2017
…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 1:12
The use of the term, “the name,” is given to denote the Person. It is more than a mere title or form of honorary dignity. Everything about the Person – His title, His power, His being, etc., is summed up in the term “the name.” Therefore, the words, “that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified,” is speaking as a summary of what has previously been said, not just about those saved, but about those set for destruction as well. They will see the honor and glory placed upon the saved which will demonstrate God’s righteous judgment upon them. This is because we are “in Christ,” and thus we are a part of His body. When we are vindicated, it glorifies Him. This is why Paul continues with the words, “in you.”
Everything about the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is exalted when He is glorified in His saints. And the reciprocal is true as well. As Paul then says, “and you in Him.” Our salvation and God’s favor upon us because of our faith in Christ will be seen as having been vindicated before the eyes of those who mock the faith and the faithful. In their lives, they pursued either self indulgence, or some type of works-based salvation. However, the true Christian sets aside self and instead trusts in the work of Christ alone. This explains how we will be glorified in Him. In the end, it is all about Jesus and what He has done. Our works are excluded. As it says, “according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Grace is unmerited favor. Any work or effort to be reconciled to God on our part would mean we merited God’s favor, and thus grace would be excluded. But such is not the case. Instead, we hear the gospel, we receive the words, and we are saved. The grace is two-fold. First it is of “our God,” and secondly it is of “the Lord Jesus Christ.” Rather than this being an argument against the deity of Christ, it forms an argument for it. Throughout his epistles, Paul speaks of the grace of God, and then he defines that as being the gift of Jesus. The two are inseparably linked. Jesus Christ is God working out our salvation in human form.
The point of Paul’s words is to demonstrate that God is just, He is righteous, He is holy, He is gracious, He is merciful, He is loving, and He is truthful. But more, He is perfectly so in each of these ways. He cannot violate His own righteousness in order to be gracious. If He did, He would be unrighteous. The same is true with each of these attributes. But through Jesus, He can accomplish all of these things without violating His perfect nature. This will be seen and understood with all clarity by those who have rejected Him, and by those who were faithful to receive Him.
Life application: Jesus is God’s way of working out the salvation of man. No other way is possible, and therefore let us hail Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. To God be the glory.
Heavenly Father, considering what You have done through Jesus, how can we but praise You? You have reconciled us to Yourself, and we stand before You purified, cleansed, and holy. And it is all because of what You have done. Can we boast in the work of another? How much more then should we boast in You! Thank You for sending Jesus to bring us home to Your glory. Amen.