What does "rescues us from the coming wrath" mean in a believer's life? Setting the Scene in Thessalonica • 1 Thessalonians 1:10 speaks of believers who “wait for His Son from heaven… — Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.” • The young Thessalonian church was enduring persecution; Paul reminds them that ultimate danger is not earthly opposition but God’s future judgment, and Jesus has already secured their rescue. Defining the Coming Wrath • God’s wrath is His righteous response to sin, not uncontrolled anger. • Scripture pictures it in two primary ways: – Eternal wrath (hell) for the unrepentant (John 3:36). – Eschatological wrath poured out during the future “day of the Lord” (Revelation 6:16-17). • Believers are promised deliverance from both forms of wrath. How Jesus Rescues—Past, Present, Future 1. Past—Justification • Romans 5:9: “Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him!” • At conversion, the believer is declared righteous; God’s courtroom verdict removes all condemnation (Romans 8:1). 2. Present—Sanctification and Fatherly Discipline rather than Wrath • God may discipline His children for growth (Hebrews 12:6-11), yet discipline is distinct from wrath. • The believer never slips back under divine anger; Christ’s propitiation stands secure. 3. Future—The Rapture and Eternal Security • 1 Thessalonians 5:9: “For God has not destined us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” • Revelation 3:10 promises protection “from the hour of testing” that will engulf the globe. • Many understand this to mean Christ catches His church away before the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). • Even beyond that moment, believers are forever shielded from the lake of fire (Revelation 20:6). Living in the Light of Our Rescue • Confidence replaces fear. No dread of God’s judgment seat; only anticipation of reward (2 Corinthians 5:10). • Motivation for holy living: gratitude fuels obedience (Titus 2:11-14). • Evangelistic urgency: those outside Christ remain under wrath; we carry the only message that saves (2 Corinthians 5:20). • Perseverance in trials: suffering cannot be God’s wrath on us, so we interpret hardship through the lens of fatherly love (Romans 8:18-39). • Hopeful waiting: our eyes are lifted heavenward, expecting the imminent return of the One who rescues (Philippians 3:20-21). A Glimpse of the Future Hope • The same Jesus who died and rose now prepares to gather His people, not for judgment but for joy. • Until that trumpet sounds, we rest in this unshakable promise: He “rescues us from the coming wrath.” |
    |