Counted worthy of the Kingdom of God

[Ronnie]

1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, Unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Grace unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth,

4 so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all persecutions and tribulations that ye endure,

5 which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer.

6 For it is a righteous thing with God to recompense with tribulation those who trouble you;

7 and to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels,

8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who know not God, and who obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

10 when He shall come on that Day to be glorified in His saints and to be admired in all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

11 Therefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,

12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1​

Considering all that Jesus went through, the anguish of soul, the mocking and the suffering, it is paramount to me that I must not be ashamed on that day when I appear before him and be unworthy of the Kingdom of God. I don’t wish to displease him, but have joy in me when he sees me and say, Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord.

Mission statement of CCF Message Board: [From unofficial source]
Perfecting the saints for the work of the ministry and aiding and encouraging all to be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God.

 

[Ronnie]

I quoted the entire chapter, it’s just a little chapter, but powerful and rich.

 

[Andy C]

All believing Christians will be found worthy, although some will enter with little to show for their efforts as a member of His church

Romans 4
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

David Celebrates the Same Truth​

5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

 

[mattfivefour]

"Counted worthy." This phrase in 2 Thessalonians 1:5 comes from a single Greek compound word that means "to deem or reckon something as being worthy." Now, being deemed or reckoned to be something doesn't mean to live up to some standard; it means to be considered as something that we already are. Therefore, this doesn't mean that we have to live up to some standard to be acceptable to God. That standard was met in Christ (and only in Christ), and it's ours simply by our placing our faith in Him. If we are in Christ we are righteous; therefore, we are already worthy. Not through any righteousness of our own, but only because of His righteousness imputed to us. (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:1)

Here's something that may help clarify 2 Thessalonians 1:5 a little better. Referring to this verse, EW Rogers wrote in his excellent book Concerning The Future: "On the side of divine sovereignty we have been made fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, and this fitness is solely due to our association with Christ in His death and resurrection. We are graced in the Beloved, altogether independent of anything in ourselves, either before or since we were saved. But God allows His people to go through persecutions and tribulations in order to develop in them the moral excellencies which make them 'worthy citizens' of that kingdom. Some of the apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Jesus’ name. Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians that God would count them worthy of their calling most certainly had nothing to do with adding anything to the work of Christ. The Cross makes the believer worthy of his position in the kingdom, but patience and faith in tribulation manifest such an one as morally worthy of it."

 

[Andy C]

How awesome it is that someone like me is counted worthy. When I say “like me”, Im not talking about the pre Christians days of sin in my life, Im talking about the sins I still do. Yes, they are not to the level in my mind that they once were, but I still sin, and I hate every one of those sins.

Thank God through His Word, we can have assurance of our salvation. If anyone ever doubts their eternal salvation, and fear you can lose it, read through the entire book of 1 John.

1 John 5
10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

 

[Ronnie]

All believing Christians will be found worthy…

Sargent, may I have shore-leave tonight because I am uncertain about my liberty to do so.

‘may’ signifies a uncertain outcome, a possibility.

I want to look my best that I may get that job I want.

 

[Andy C]

Sargent, may I have shore-leave tonight because I am uncertain about my liberty to do so.

‘may’ signifies a uncertain outcome, a possibility.

I want to look my best that I may get that job I want.

Its Sergeant - and Sergeant Major for me……

No liberty until all the spuds have been peeled…

 

[Ronnie]

Sarge, if you recall, I was disciplined with KP duty yesterday.

 

[Ronnie]

I cleaned the latrine last week, the Lieutenant Colonel is starting to suspect.

 

[Ronnie]

We mixed Navy, Marine and Army!