Rev. Spence Laycock

Last week I was tootling along without a care in the world. Actually, I did have several cares but I was ignoring them as much as possible. My basic philosophy is this, the more you ignore something the less you have to deal with it. This, however, does not apply to the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage.

Experience has taught me one lesson concerning women, especially wives. They will not stand to be ignored, particularly by their husbands. I have learned the less attention I pay to my wife the more I pay in other areas of life, if you know what I mean.

So, ignoring the cares I had last week, I was caught off guard when I received a letter from my credit card company. This was no friendly, "how are you," kind of a letter. Nor was it a cheery birthday greeting. I can't tell you how many times I have reminded them of my birthday but to date they have not picked up on my hint.

The ominous letter I did receive informed me that . . .

It's been said that Judaism is the only religion that has in it a commandment to the believers that they 'remember?. In Deuteronomy 8:2 it states, 'remember how the Lord your God led you on this long journey through the desert these past forty years.? It isn't just a call to remember for the sake of information, it is a call to remember and then live by what you remember. Interestingly, in the New Testament there is another call to remember, except this time we are encouraged to remember the future, to live in the light of what we know will come to be. A good father will seek to direct his children in anticipation of the things that will come, whether that be in finances, relationships or work or faith. Paul the apostle was this kind of father figure to a number of young Christians, it was he who encouraged the Thessalonians to 'remember the Future.? In 2 Thessalonians 2, verses 1 -5, he seeks to assure them of God's deliberate and securing hand upon them even as ruin comes upon the world. In this mornings message the main context is the assurance we can have in Christ, a context that does not come . . .

In the Supreme Court building in Geneva , Switzerland , hangs a massive painting by Paul Robert. The painting is entitled, ?Justice Instructing the Judges?. In the foreground are all forms of litigation, individuals against individuals, organization against organization. The striking feature of the painting is the depiction of Justice. Typically represented as being blindfolded and with an upright sword representing impartiality, Roberts has depicted justice with the blindfold off, her gaze looking down, and the sword is pointed downwards to a book on which is written, 'the Word of God.? Perhaps there are fewer more comforting thoughts to those who have been abused, mistreated and persecuted unfairly than the truth that there is a justice that is higher than man's justice, a recompense that arises out of omniscient understanding. God's justice is unavoidable, indisputable and perfect in application. This morning I'd to look at a passage in Scripture that speaks about this attribute of God and describes how it will be exercised. Turn with me to 2 Thessalonians 1: 6-12.

I. The Nature of God's Justice is Both Retributive and Remunerative.

The circumcision of Christ I claim and celebrate in baptism through faith in the working of God.
I. The Object of My Faith is More Important than Amount or Intent.

Through the first verses of this chapter Paul commends them for their faith, but particularly he directs to them to the object of their faith, Jesus Christ. In verse 9 he states Christ as the One in whom the fullness of deity dwells, that is Jesus is God dwelling in human form. This is the first step, the object of our faith is more important than the amount of faith exercised. You can be as devout as you can in terms of how severe you are with your body or which foods you don't eat, but it is Jesus in whom we trust, not my self discipline, not my interpretation of what I should do or should not do.

II. The Object of My Faith, Jesus, Accomplishes My Salvation.

In verse 10 Paul simply says in Him you have been made complete. Jesus is the author and perfecter of my faith. The essence of the statement Paul makes is that . . .