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Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Spurgeon says that "Blessed men scatter blessings. When the benediction of God rests upon us, we pour out benedictions upon others." Grace to you and peace - This phrase is found 11x - Rom. 1:7; 1 Co. 1:3; 2 Co. 1:2; Gal. 1:3; Eph. 1:2; Phil. 1:2; Col. 1:2; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:2; Phlm. 1:3; Rev. 1:4. Grace is an unearned blessing to unworthy sinners. - D C McCasland The common greeting among the Greeks was chairein ("rejoice, greetings")" while the Hebrew greeting was shalom ("peace, prosperity, wellbeing"). Christianity took these everyday words of greeting and transformed them into vehicles able to convey the distinctive truths of the gospel. William
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Spurgeon - This is the apostle’s usual salutation when he is writing to a Christian church. When he is writing to a minister, it is “grace, mercy, and peace,” for God’s most prominent servants especially need great mercy on account of their heavy responsibilities and many shortcomings; but to the church Paul’s greeting is, “Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul is opening with a prayer that the Lord's grace (God's transforming, supernatural power dispensed by the Holy Spirit to live the abundant life - see discussion of empowering aspect of grace at 2Ti 2:1+) be with all the the saints at Thessalonica... Grace (5485) (charis) is God’s free, unmerited favor bestowed through Christ upon guilty sinners. Grace is God's provision for us because of the death of Christ for our sins. God is the Source for all our provisions. We do not earn nor deserve His gifts. We do not deserve anything from God except condemnation and eternal punishment. Nothing undermines natural self-effort more than a proper understanding of the supernatural grace of God. The Bible personifies Jesus as "grace." "For the grace of God has appeared bring salvation to all men…" (Titus 2:11+). If people do the doing, they get the glory. If God does the doing, then God gets the glory. Grace glorifies God, because God does the doing. Grace is the cause and peace the effect or the result to all who receive that favor (grace) in Christ. Grace is fountain of which peace is the stream. Grace and peace are a couplet. We cannot have one without the other. We must experience God's grace before we can experience His peace and thus these two words sum up the Gospel, grace being the "cause" and peace the "effect" (cf Eph 6:15+). The order in the New Testament is always "grace and peace," never the reverse. We cannot reverse the order for if we bypass grace, we cannot possibly have peace in our life. Christians must live their life based on grace. We cannot live the supernatural, abundant life on our own resources. And of course ultimately the Source of peace is the Spirit who bears it in and through us (Gal 5:22+). Every believer has peace with God, but not all Christians have the peace of God. So many churn inside because they do not understand and therefore fail to see God's sovereign hand in every circumstance of their life. To experience this peace of God, one must soak one's mind with the Word of God and prayer. Although the context is different the principle in Isaiah applies that God "will keep in perfect peace all who trust in (Him), whose thoughts are fixed on (Him)! (Isa 26:3NLT) Biblical peace is the supernatural given ability to "sit down" on the inside. Are you standing up on the inside? Fix your thoughts on the Prince of Peace. Peace is the consequence of appropriating grace to our life. No Christ, no peace. Know Christ, know peace. Peace (1515) (eirene from verb eiro = to join) pictures the binding or joining together what is broken or divided and conveys the basic meaning to set at one again. It is reflected in the modern expression "having it all together." Everything is in place and as it ought to be. Eirene is the root word for our English "serene" (serenity) which means clear and free of storms or unpleasant change, stresses an unclouded and lofty tranquility. Peace implies health, well-being, and prosperity. Christ Jesus through the blood of His Cross binds together that which was separated by human sin, the sinner who puts his faith in the Lord Jesus, and God. In secular Greek eirene referred to cessation or absence of war. In Adam all men before salvation "were enemies" (Ro 5:10+, Ro 5:12-+), "alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds" (Col 1:21+) and so were ''at war'' with the Almighty'.
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Spurgeon explained how to get a strong and growing faith: “By that means you are to grow. This is so with faith. Do all you can, and then do a little more; and when you can do that, then do a little more than you can. Always have something in hand that is greater then your present capacity. Grow up to it, and when you have grown up to it, grow more.” (from his message The Necessity of Growing Faith - 2 Thess 1:3 - this was given a week after his message A Lecture for Little-Faith as a follow-up message) Don't miss the fact that their faith was growing in spite of "much tribulation" which they experienced "with the joy of the Holy Spirit." (1 Th 1:6+). As Hiebert says "The storms they have endured have not destroyed their faith but rather strengthened its roots." In fact their faith had grown so much that Paul said "the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything." (1 Th 1:8+) The witness of their faith was rippling through the entire area. Faith (4102)(pistis) is synonymous with trust or belief and is the conviction of the truth and in Scripture speaks of belief respecting the Gospel of Christ and man's relationship to God and divine things. As Swindoll says pistis "implies both knowledge and action. One may receive knowledge of a certain truth and may even offer verbal agreement, but “trust” or “confidence” is not said to be present until one’s behavior reflects that truth....For the Jew, and therefore the Christian, pistis became a description of the means by which someone relates to God." Faith is not believing in spite of evidence—that’s superstition—but obeying in spite of circumstances and consequences. As pistis relates to God, it is the conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things well as the Provider and Bestower of eternal salvation through Christ. As faith relates to Christ it represents a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation and entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. Stated another way, eternal salvation comes only through belief in Jesus Christ and no other way. Uses of pistis in Thessalonians - 1 Thess. 1:3; 1 Thess. 1:8; 1 Thess. 3:2; 1 Thess. 3:5; 1 Thess. 3:6; 1 Thess. 3:7; 1 Thess. 3:10; 1 Thess. 5:8; 2 Thess. 1:3; 2 Thess. 1:4; 2 Thess. 1:11; 2 Thess. 2:13; 2 Thess. 3:2; Alexander
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Spurgeon has a convicting note on we ought always to give thanks to God - Whether we shall praise God or not, is not left to our opinion Although the commandment saith not, “Thou shalt praise the Lord,” yet praise is God’s most righteous due, and every man, as a partaker of God’s bounty, and especially every Christian, is bound to praise God, as it is meet. It is true we have no authoritative rubric for daily praise; we have no commandment left on record specially prescribing certain hours of song and thanksgiving; but still the law written upon the heart, teacheth us with divine authority that it is right to praise God; and this unwritten mandate hath as much power and authority about it, as if it had been recorded on the tables of stone, or handed to us from the top of thundering Sinai. The Christian’s duty is to praise God. Think not ye who are always mourning that ye are guiltless in that respect; imagine not that ye can discharge your duty to your God without songs of praise. It is your duty to praise him. You are bound by the bonds of his love as long as you live to bless his name. It is meet and comely that you should do so. It is not only a pleasurable exercise, but it is the absolute duty of the Christian life to praise God. This is taught us in the text, — “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet.” Let not your harps then hang upon the willows, ye mourning children of the Lord. It is your duty to strike them and bring forth their loudest music. It is sinful if you to cease from praising God; you are blessed in order that you may bless him; and if you do not praise God you are not bringing forth the fruit, which he as the divine husbandman, may well expect at your hands. Go forth then, ye sons of God, and chant his praise. With every morning’s dawn lift up your notes of thanksgiving, and every evening let the setting sun be followed with your song. Girdle the earth with your praises; surround it with an atmosphere of melody, so shall God himself look down from heaven and accept your praises as like in kind, though not equal in degree, to the praises of cherubim and seraphim. (from Spurgeon's message entitled "A Lecture for Little-Faith" - 2 Thess 1:3). Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright. -- Psalm 33:1+ Spurgeon - What a kind of sacred network Christian love makes, intertwisting every believer in Christ with every other believer! “The love of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth.” Oh, that this might really be the case in all the churches of our Lord Jesus Christ! Spurgeon - “We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, since your faith is flourishing and the love each one of you has for one another is increasing.” We must beware of imagining that we have reached a state of finality in religion. Beware of that spirit, but rather imitate the example of the apostle Paul who wrote, “Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus” (Php 3:13–14). We are not content with merely being alive; we wish to be healthy. And we ought not to be satisfied with being saved; we should desire to have our faith in full strength and to have all our graces at the highest degree of development. Spurgeon - When faith commences in the soul it is simply looking unto Jesus, and perhaps even then there are so many clouds of doubts, and so much dimness of the eye, that we have need for the light of the Spirit to shine upon the cross before we are able even so much as to see it. When faith grows a little, it rises from looking to Christ to coming to Christ. He who stood afar off and looked to the cross, by-and-by plucks up courage, and getting heart to himself, he runneth up to the cross; or perhaps he doth not run, but hath to be drawn before he can so much as creep thither, and even then it is with a limping gait that he draweth nigh to Christ the Saviour. But that done, faith goeth a little farther: it layeth hold on Christ; it begins to see him in his excellency, and appropriates him in some degree, conceives him to be a real Christ and a real Saviour, and is convinced of his suitability. And when it hath done as much as that, it goeth further; it leaneth on Christ; it leaneth on its Beloved; casteth all the burden of its cares, sorrows, and griefs upon that blessed shoulder, and permitteth all its sins to be swallowed up in the great red sea of the Saviour’s blood. And faith can then go further still; for having seen and run towards him, and laid hold upon him, and having leaned upon him, faith in the next place puts in a humble, but a sure and certain claim to all that Christ is and all that he has wrought; and then, trusting alone in this, appropriating all this to itself, faith mounteth to full assurance; and out of heaven there is no state more rapturous and blessed. How to Grow in Faith - Russell Spray. “We...thank God … that your faith groweth exceedingly” (2 Th. 1:3). I. Realize the Purpose of Faith “He that cometh to God must believe …” (Heb. 11:6). A. Faith is the way to please God. B. Faith is the means by which we receive God (2 Peter 1:9). C. Faith is the way to receive blessings from God. D. Faith enables us to do things for God. II. Remember the Promises of Faith “Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matt. 21:22). A. The promises of faith are extensive enough to meet all our needs—physical, mental, and spiritual (Phil. 4:19). B. Acquaint yourself with the promises by searching the Scriptures. C. Memorize the promises. D. Apply the promises to your areas of need. III. Recognize the Privilege of Faith “Saved through Faith … not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). A. Faith is not merited or earned; it cannot be purchased. B. Faith is given to us by God. Simply take it. C. Faith is for all—the young and old, rich and poor, black and white. D. God is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2). IV.Respond to the Power of Faith “Kept by the power of God through Faith …” (1 Peter 1:5). A. God’s power is unlimited. He is omnipotent. B. Faith releases God’s power. C. Active faith accomplishes the impossible—removes mountains, lifts burdens, sets men free from the bondage of sin. D. Faith is the victory (1 John 5:4). Family Trademarks (LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER) - The Aran Islands, off the west coast of Ireland, are known for their beautiful sweaters. Patterns are woven into the fabric using sheep’s wool to craft the garments. Many of them relate to the culture and folklore of these small islands, but some are more personal. Each family on the islands has its own trademark pattern, which is so distinctive that if a fisherman were to drown it is said that he could be identified simply by examining his sweater for the family trademark. In John’s first letter, the apostle describes things that are to be trademarks of those who are members of God’s family. In 1 John 3:1, John affirms that we are indeed part of God’s family by saying, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” He then describes the trademarks of those who are the children of God, including, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 Jn 4:7+). Because “love is of God,” the chief way to reflect the heart of the Father is by displaying the love that characterizes Him. May we allow His love to reach out to others through us—for love is one of our family trademarks. Love is the family resemblance the world should see in followers of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. NET 2 Thessalonians 1:4 As a result we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you are enduring. NLT 2 Thessalonians 1:4 We proudly tell God's other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. ESV 2 Thessalonians 1:4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. NIV 2 Thessalonians 1:4 Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. GNT 2 Thessalonians 1:4 ὥστε αὐτοὺς ἡμᾶς ἐν ὑμῖν ἐγκαυχᾶσθαι ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τοῦ θεοῦ ὑπὲρ τῆς ὑπομονῆς ὑμῶν καὶ πίστεως ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς διωγμοῖς ὑμῶν καὶ ταῖς θλίψεσιν αἷς ἀνέχεσθε, KJV 2 Thessalonians 1:4 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: YLT 2 Thessalonians 1:4 so that we ourselves do glory in you in the assemblies of God, for your endurance and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye bear; ASV 2 Thessalonians 1:4 so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which ye endure; CSB 2 Thessalonians 1:4 Therefore, we ourselves boast about you among God's churches-- about your endurance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you endure. NKJ 2 Thessalonians 1:4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, NRS 2 Thessalonians 1:4 Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring. NAB 2 Thessalonians 1:4 Accordingly, we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God regarding your endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions you endure. NJB 2 Thessalonians 1:4 Among the churches of God we take special pride in you for your perseverance and faith under all the persecutions and hardships you have to bear. GWN 2 Thessalonians 1:4 That's why we brag in God's churches about your endurance and faith in all the persecutions and suffering you are experiencing. speak proudly: 2Co 7:14 9:2,4 1Th 2:19 your perseverance and faith: 2Th 3:5 Ro 2:7 5:3-5 8:25 12:12 1Th 1:3 3:2-8 Heb 6:15 10:36 Heb 12:1-3 Jas 1:3,4 5:7,8 2Pe 1:6 Rev 14:12 your persecutions: 1Th 2:14 3:3,4 Jas 5:11 2 Thessalonians 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Therefore - Term of conclusion. Based on the greatly enlarged faith and growing love for one another they begin to boast in this church. we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God - We ourselves is emphatic so what Paul is saying that he, Silvanus and Timothy were compelled to boast about the Thessalonian church to the other churches they visited. W E Vine adds on we ourselves speak proudly "i.e., the missionaries, 2 Th 1:1, “ourselves” occupies the place of emphasis, thereby implying, first, that others had reported the progress of the church at Thessalonica, and, second, that this progress was so marked that the men who had laid the foundation of the work, and who might, therefore, have been expected to maintain a degree of reticence about it, were constrained to break even so good a rule." John
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Spurgeon reminds us that "The refiner is never very far from the mouth of the furnace when his gold is in the fire." Gold is tested by fire Saints are tested by afflictions Perseverance (5281)(hupomone from hupo = under + meno = stay, remain, abide) literally means abiding under. The root idea of hupomone is to remain under some discipline, subjecting one’s self to something which demands the submission of one's will to something against which one naturally would rebel. It portrays a picture of steadfastly and unflinchingly bearing up under a heavy load and describes that quality of character which does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial. The picture is that of steadfastness, constancy and endurance. It has in it a forward look, the ability to focus on what is beyond the current pressures (eg Jesus "Who for the joy set before Him endured [verb form hupomeno] the Cross despising the shame" see notes on Hebrews 12:2). And so hupomone does not describe a grim resignation or a passive "grin and bear" attitude but a triumphant facing of difficult circumstances knowing that even out of evil God guarantees good. Hupomone - 31v - Lk. 8:15; Lk. 21:19; Rom. 2:7; Rom. 5:3; Rom. 5:4; Rom. 8:25; Rom. 15:4; Rom. 15:5; 2 Co. 1:6; 2 Co. 6:4; 2 Co. 12:12; Col. 1:11; 1 Thess. 1:3; 2 Thess. 1:4; 2 Thess. 3:5; 1 Tim. 6:11; 2 Tim. 3:10; Tit. 2:2; Heb. 10:36; Heb. 12:1; Jas. 1:3; Jas. 1:4; Jas. 5:11; 2 Pet. 1:6; Rev. 1:9; Rev. 2:2; Rev. 2:3; Rev. 2:19; Rev. 3:10; Rev. 13:10; Rev. 14:12 THOUGHT - How are you doing beloved? If you are like me (and most saints), you are experiencing manifold trials! Are you bearing up under them, leaning hard on the strengthening of the Spirit (the only way we can supernaturally remain under the "load.")? Persecutions (1375)(diogmos from dioko = to chase, to pursue - gives picture of being chased!) literally refers to a chase or pursuit and figuratively means to put to flight or to pursue with repeated acts of enmity. BDAG writes that diogmos is a program or process designed to harass and oppress someone." It means to systematically organize a program to oppress and harass people. Afflictions (note PLURAL!)(2347)(thlipsis from thlibo = to crush, press together, squash, hem in, compress, squeeze in turn derived from thláo = to break) originally expressed sheer, physical pressure on a man. Thlipsis is a strong term which does not refer to minor inconveniences, but to real hardships. Thlipsis pictures one being "crushed" by intense pressure, difficult circumstances, suffering or trouble pressing upon them from without. In Scripture thlipsis is most often used of outward difficulties, but it is also used of emotional stress and sorrows which "weighs down" a man’s spirit like the sorrows and burden his heart. Thlipsis then includes the disappointments which can "crush the life" out of the one who is afflicted. Thus persecution, affliction, distress, opposition or tribulation, all press hard on one's soul.Paul commended the saints at Thessalonica in the first letter for "having received the word in much (NOT A LITTLE!) tribulation (thlipsis) with the joy of the Holy Spirit." (1 Th 1:6+, also in 1 Th 3:7+) Martin Luther had a good word on the purifying effects of afflictions writing that "Whatever virtues tribulation finds us in, it develops more fully. If anyone is carnal, weak, blind, wicked, irascible, haughty, and so forth, tribulation will make him more carnal, weak, blind, wicked and irritable. On the other hand, if one is spiritual, strong, wise, pious, gentle and humble, he will become more spiritual, powerful, wise, pious, gentle and humble." “Through many tribulations (afflictions - thlipsis) we must enter the kingdom of God.” - Paul and Barnabas in Acts 14:22+ Endure (put up with, bear - in the present tense = continually "hanging in there!") (430)(anechomai from aná = in, up + echomai, the middle voice of echo = to have, to hold) means literally to hold one’s self up, erect, upright and by extension firm against a person or thing. Thus anechomai means to put up with, to bear with (equanimity or evenness of mind especially under stress), to tolerate, to forbear, to be patient with. The figurative idea is to endure discomfort or to hold out in spite of persecution, threats, injury, indifference, or complaints and not to retaliate (esp 1Cor 4:12). It conveys the sense of putting up with others, exercising self-restraint (for believers only possible empowered by the Spirit) and tolerance. Spurgeon - One of the clearest proofs of the judgment to come is to be found in the present sufferings of the saints through persecutions and tribulations; for if they, for the very reason that they love God, have to suffer here, there must be a future state and time for rectifying all this that is now so wrong. Vine comments - The present continuous tense (present tense of anechomai) indicates that the afflictions which beset them at the beginning, 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2:14, had been continued or renewed. Confession of Christ had brought upon them the hostility of their fellow citizens, Luke 21:12, cp. Acts 17:5, 6; now they were learning that righteousness and godliness also excite opposition, see Matthew 5:10; 2 Timothy 3:12. In these afflictions, however, they would be sustained by the knowledge that the Lord Jesus regards persecution of His people as of Himself, see Acts 9:4, 5, and cp. Zechariah 2:8, and through grace they would yet learn to rejoice in it, 2 Corinthians 12:10. Moreover to the Christian there is not merely present blessing in persecution, there is also the assurance of future reward, Matthew 5:10–12. One of my favorite quotes regarding afflictions, suffering and trials is from Warren
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Spurgeon says "Observe that our Lord is spoken of as coming in His glory and as, at the same time, taking vengeance in flaming fire on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel. This is a note of great terror to all those who are ignorant of God and wickedly unbelieving concerning His Christ. Let them take heed, for the Lord will gain glory by the overthrow of His enemies and those who would not bow before Him cheerfully shall be compelled to bow before Him abjectly. They shall crouch at His feet. They will lick the dust in terror and at the glance of His eyes they shall utterly wither away. As it is written, they “shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” But this is not the main object for which Christ will come, nor is this the matter in which He finds His chiefest glory, for, observe, He does this as it were by the way when He comes for another purpose. To destroy the wicked is a matter of necessity in which His spirit takes no delight, for He does this, according to the text, not so much when He comes to do it as when He shall come with another object, namely, “To be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in them that believe.” (Sermon) Ray
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Spurgeon - The crowning honor of Christ will be seen in His people and this is the design with which He will return to this earth in the latter days—that He may be illustrious in His saints and exceedingly magnified in them. Even now His saints glorify Him. When they walk in holiness they do, as it were, reflect His light. Their holy deeds are beams from Him who is the Sun of righteousness. When they believe in Him they also glorify Him, for there is no grace which pays lowlier homage at the throne of Jesus than the grace of faith whereby we trust Him and so confess Him to be our all in all. We glorify our gracious Lord, but beloved brethren, we must all confess that we do not do this as we could desire, for, alas, too often we dishonor Him and grieve His Holy Spirit. By our lack of zeal and by our many sins we are guilty of discrediting His gospel and dishonoring His name. Happy, happy, happy day when this shall no more be possible—when we shall be rid of the inward corruption which now works itself into outward sin and shall never dishonor Christ again, but shall shine with a clear, pure radiance like the moon on the Passover night when it looks the sun full in the face and then shines upon the earth at her best. Today we are like vessels on the wheel, but half fashioned, yet even now somewhat of His divine skill is seen in us as His handiwork. Still the unformed clay is only in part seen and much remains to be done. How much more of the great Potter’s creating wisdom and sanctifying power will be displayed when we shall be the perfect products of His hand! In the bud and germ, our new nature brings honor to its Author, but it will do far more when its perfection manifests the Finisher. Then shall Jesus be glorified and admired in every one of us when the days of the new creation are ended and God shall usher in the eternal Sabbath by pronouncing His grace-work to be very good. (Sermon) B H Carroll on how He will be glorified in His saints - Sir Christopher Wren is glorified in Westminster Abbey, which was the greatest work of his genius, and as one steps into the abbey he passed under a sentence which reads, “Whoever wishes to see the monument of the architect, let him look around.” The illustration helps us to see what will be the character of the glory of Jesus Christ in His people. When he saw them they were utterly lost, their nature depraved, under condemnation, without a friend, sinking down beneath the righteous frown of God. He came to save them, some of them drunkards, some of them whore-mongers, some robbers, some murderers, and commencing the good work in them by regeneration, and continuing it by sanctification, until their spirits were perfected, and consummating it by the resurrection and glorification of their bodies so that these that had been drunkards, liars, thieves, murderers, adulterers, stand there on that day in his own glorious image. Who did this? What mighty architect? It was Jesus. Jesus will be glorified in his people just as the sculptor will be glorified in the statue that comes from the skill of his hands and the thought of his mind. The sculptor looks on a piece of rough, unhewn marble, that a thousand people can see nothing in but marble, but with his eye of genius he sees in it the angel that can be carved from it. He begins to chip and chisel until, at last, form and outline appear. The rough outline assumes symmetry; the face takes on ‘expression, the eyes seem to glow with fire, and as the finishing touch is put upon the statue, we marvel at the artist in his work. In that way Christ will be glorified in his people. THOUGHT - Robert Hawker prays "In that, all-decisive hour, Lord grant that I may be found in thee, waiting thy approach, and not be ashamed before: thee at thy coming! Amen" Related Resource: What is glorification? | GotQuestions.org And to be marveled at among all who have believed - The radiance of the glory of Christ at His Second Coming will surpass any glory we have ever seen! All believers will finally see Him in all His glory (see above - 1 Jn 3:2+) All who have believed refers to the saints in Thessalonica. Believed (pisteuo) is aorist tense depicting the moment in time past when they heard and received and believed the Gospel (cf 1 Th 2:13).
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Spurgeon - Those who look upon the saints will feel a sudden wonderment of sacred delight; they will be startled with the surprising glory of the Lord’s work in them; ‘We thought He would do great things, but this! This surpasseth conception!’ Every saint will be a wonder to himself. ‘I thought my bliss would be great, but not like this!’ All his brethren will be a wonder to the perfected believer. He will say, ‘I thought the saints would be perfect, but I never imagined such a transfiguration of excessive glory would be put upon each of them. I could not have imagined my Lord to be so good and gracious.’ John