In this passage Paul puts the coming of the Lord in connection with every Christian affection. This Apostle, who abounded in love toward the saints, desired also that they themselves walk in love, in order to abide in holiness, and to shine in that day. He does not yet state the order of the facts by which this result will be seen, but he mentions the moral truths and the practical grace which prepare it.
"The Lord make you to increase and abound in love... to the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness." The love of God possessing the heart is what enables the Christian to walk in holiness. Here we find again the doctrine of John: "He that loveth his brother abideth in the light" (1 John 2:1010He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. (1 John 2:10)). It is interesting to see these fundamental elements of faith and of individual blessing forming an integral part of the powerful testimony through which Paul was forming the Church.
"To the end He may stablish your hearts," etc. It is an actual establishing of the heart, but which will be seen in 'its results at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ: 'We must all be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ" (2 Cor. 5:1010For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)).
"Before God, even our Father." Paul always sees the Thessalonians in their relationship to the Father. It does not appear that these believers had as yet got beyond the state of babes in the faith. "I write unto you, little children, because ye know the Father" (1 John 2:1313I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. (1 John 2:13)).
The sense of verse 13 is this: May God establish your hearts in holiness (now, by the exercise of love), that ye may be (seen) unblameable in holiness, before our God and Father (at that moment) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. In this passage the coming of Jesus is not presented in the act of our gathering together to Him, when we go to meet Him, but in the act of our coming with Him from the Father's house, after having been in His presence. It is that moment which will show whether we are unblameable.
When Paul, occupied with the coming of Jesus, considers the privilege of faith, he sees the saints all gathered together to the Lord, tasting before Him the common joy. When he considers the responsibility of the Christian's walk, he always sees the appearing of Christ. There can be nothing but joy in our hearts at that blessed moment when we shall go with Jesus into the Father's presence, taking a place which the love of God has given to us, and which the work of Christ has procured to us. It will be otherwise when we return with Jesus. Without losing our position and our blessedness in Him, we shall nevertheless be in a different scene; we shall have reached that solemn moment when the consequences of our responsibility will be manifested.