From 2 Thessalonians, chapter 1 —

The Apostle Paul’s admonition to those who have received the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ is a reminder: “Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” It is essential for us to accept Christ as our Saviour. Our eternal destiny rests upon that act. But, it is also necessary that we grow in our faith. Paul writes, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure.”

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we will face persecution and tribulation in this life. However, our patience and our faith in Christ in the midst of our struggles are, in themselves, a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God. This judgment (or wisdom) of God is seen in two ways: first, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer and, second, that it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you.

Therefore, “to you who are troubled,” Paul writes, “rest with us.” God’s judgment will be seen when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is why receiving the Lord Jesus as our Savior, as God in the flesh, is vital. We must believe the record God has given us of his only begotten Son. The Lord Jesus is the only way to know God. No man can come to God apart from Jesus Christ. To reject the Son of God is to be without the Father.

All who obey not the gospel shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed -See First Thessalonians 1 ) in that day.

“Wherefore also,” the Apostle writes, “we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye (may be glorified) in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”