Greetings from Paul
1 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy.
We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Encouragement during Persecution
3 Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.
4 We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering.
5 And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.
6 In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you. Those who hurt God's children will suffer consequences.
7 And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels,
8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. We must get to know God by establishing an intimate relationship with Him. We must keep our faith in Him alive and fresh. Judgement is on all unbelievers, those unfaithful and the wicked.
9 They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. They will go to Hell where they can never have reconciliation with God.
10 When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him. His faithful believers will rejoice at His return. Evil will be judged and done away with for forever.
11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Pray for the strength of other believers to keep their faith and to be led by the Holy Spirit.
12 Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ. When we live holy through His power we give glory to Our Heavenly Father. The relationship we have with God reflects the way we live and treat others. True followers of Christ honor God with our entire lives.
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