Good Hope in Grace

Dearly beloved of the Lord, thank God that He gave us good hope through grace. He called us in Christ as a first fruit unto salvation by sanctification of the spirit and believing the truth.

Those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, will not accept the love of the truth so that they might be saved. There is a time coming that this age of grace will end, and a period of judgment called the Day of the Lord will follow it.

Don’t be disturbed by anyone who tells you that the Church of the Grace of God will go through the Day of the Lord. We will be at rest at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his messengers of power when he comes to give vengeance against those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel regarding our Lord Jesus Christ.

“They will be sentenced to eternal destruction from the face of the lord and from the glory of his prevailing ability after he comes to be glorified in his holy [sanctified] ones and to be admired in that day by all those who have believed (for our witness to you was believed). II Thessalonians 1: 9, 10 The Working Translation

Since we confessed Jesus as Lord and believed that God raised him from the dead we are saved, and we stand before God in Christ and in his accomplishments.

Those whose standing is in Christ will be gathered together to meet the Lord in the air (I Thessalonians 4:15-18). “For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” I Th. 5: 9 and 10

Our calling is in Christ. It is one of salvation, comfort, rest, and glory. There is no more sentence of condemnation coming to us; only a hope of glory.

So dearly beloved, don’t let anyone deceive you by any means, for the Day of the Lord will not come until God removes His restraint and the departure of the Church occurs, then the man of sin will be revealed, the son of destruction.

The Lord Jesus will destroy him (who’s coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them who are to perish because they do not accept the love of the truth so that they might be saved.

“So for this reason, God sends them a working of delusion that they may believe what is false, so that all those who do not believe the truth but delight in injustice might be judged.” II Thessalonians 2:10, 11 WT

“However, we are obliged to thank God always for you, brothers, beloved by the Lord, because God chose you to be a first fruit {OR from the beginning} by sanctification of the spirit and believing of the truth, unto which He called you by means of our gospel to the acquisition of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” II Thessalonians 2:13, 14 WT

This heaven and earth will pass away, but His Word will never pass away. Look at the contrast between those who do not love the truth and those who believe it: one will perish and ultimately be destroyed and the other will be saved and inherit eternal life. Thank God for His wonderful Word; the word of Truth.

“So then, brothers, stand fast and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, whether by word or by epistle from us. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, Who loves us and gives us eternal encouragement and good hope in grace, encourage and strengthen your hearts with every good work and word.” II Thessalonians 2:15-17 WT

Thank God for the good hope He gave us in grace, dearly beloved.