Live Like You Believe It I Thessalonians Ch. 1 Sunday, January 20, 2019 Most of the epistles of Paul begin with a salutation that includes the words, grace to you and peace or grace, mercy, and peace as in the case of 1 and 2 Timothy. Paul s salutations add a new flavor, however, due to the meaning of the words grace and peace for believers in Christ. While grace to you and peace recall the normal Greek and Hebrew greetings, Paul basically coined a slight variation to connote the deepened Christian truth of grace. Charis ( grace ) goes beyond the typical chairein ( greetings ). By doing this he placed the focus on the unmerited blessings given to believers in Christ. Through God s marvelous grace sinners are delivered from their sins and brought into a saving relationship with a holy God by the work of God on their behalf, completely free of charge. This grace does not cease with salvation from sin s penalty, but continues on as the foundation of the believer s life with God throughout all eternity. These are the blessings of grace that Paul and his associates wish for their readers. Grace always brings benefits and one of these benefits is reflected in the word peace which the Apostle always associates with God s grace. In fact, the order is significant. First grace and then peace. Until we know and appropriate grace, we can t experience peace. Peace was a typical Jewish greeting, but for the Christian, it carries a much deeper meaning than it did among the ancient Hebrews. So exactly what was it that Paul was wishing for his readers? The word for peace is eirhnh. I know you thought I would say Shalom, but this is written in Greek, not Hebrew. Eirhnh apparently comes from eirw which means to join. It refers to a state of untroubled tranquility, a state without war or dividing factions or enmity. It refers to a state of harmony Page 1 of 8
and well-being. However, in the use of this word in Scripture, there are several aspects of peace which God's grace gives according to the varied contexts. So let s just say that peace with God refers to the peace of salvation wherein the barriers, like man s sin and God s holiness, which separate man from God are removed through faith in God s gracious work in Christ. No one knows this grace and peace apart from being saved, born again, by faith in Jesus. Galatians 2:16 (NKJV) 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ Ephesians 2:8 (NKJV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God The next portion of this letter is also typical of Paul s letters. 1 Thessalonians 1:2 3 (NKJV) 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, Paul was a man of prayer. Whether he was writing from some place while on one of his missionary journeys or from a prison cell, Paul was always praying for others. The church of Thessalonica has a reputation of faith, love and hope. In 1 Corinthians 13 we find Paul expounding on these three - - - 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV) 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Paul had been discussing Spiritual gifts and miracles with those in Corinth all through chapters 12-14, and this statement is inserted right in the midst of that conversation. The three great pursuits of the Christian life are not miracles, power, and gifts ; they are faith, hope, and love. Though the gifts are precious, and Page 2 of 8
given by the Holy Spirit today, they were never meant to be the focus or goal of our Christian lives. Instead, we pursue faith, hope, and love. What is your Christian life focused on? What do you really want more of? Some would say the gifts that Paul was mentioning. While those gifts are needful in the church today, the answer should always come back to faith, hope, and love. If it doesn t, we need to receive God s sense of priorities, and put our focus where it belongs. While praying with a spiritual language is good, and prophecy is even better, according to Paul in chapter 14, what I truly need is greater faith, more heavenly hope and purer love. Those three attributes, characteristics, distinctions, were hallmarks of their election by God - - - of their salvation. 1 Thessalonians 1:4 (NKJV) 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. Election - (ἐκλογή) - Choice, chosen - a chosen vessel Peter uses it when he writes 1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; Not only were you chosen by God, but you were also chosen to perform a function. Peter says that function is to proclaim God s praises to others. Paul explains and amplifies this in Ephesians Ephesians 1:4 5 (NKJV) 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, Page 3 of 8
Here we not only find out when God chose you before the foundation of the world, but why that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love Fat chance that we re going to be holy and without blame - right? Well, when you accept Jesus as the Lord of your life, as your Savior Redeemer, He takes your sins upon Himself and gives you His righteousness - making you holy and without blame. But let s not forget the words in love. The evidence of Christ s imparted gift of His righteousness is your growing, abounding love for God and others. So just as faith, love and hope - that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love - epitomized the Christians in the church of Thessalonica, faith, love, and hope should epitomize folks in our church. That is what gives a church the kind of reputation that the apostle Paul praises. That s what gives a church an opportunity to be a witness within its community. Many churches today have a reputation of being concert-like during their worship service. Many pastors today entertain people with clever stories and delivery styles. Many congregations hear what they want to hear from the pulpit but not the truth of the Word of God. But the Thessalonian church had the distinct reputation of faith, love and hope. And where did that get them? you might ask. 1 Thessalonians 1:6 7 (NKJV) 6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. Page 4 of 8
They became an exemplary church that encouraged others who lived great distances away - Macedonia to the north and Achaia to the south of the Grecian peninsula. Think of it - if each of us set out to increase in faith, love and hope, we could be an encouragement to other churches to the north and south of us too. Would that be San Jacinto or Beaumont or even Cherry Valley? How about Menifee and Temecula to the south? And what s wrong with including those who are east and west? But most churches don t want to encourage other churches. Most churches are competitive. They want to take members from other congregations and assimilate them into their congregation. I hope we all agree that we want to see people who are lost and are in the world saved and become members of this congregation. And I hope we can all agree that we want to be an ENCOURAGEMENT to other churches around us without them being frightened that we want to steal their sheep. What we didn t cover in depth a couple of weeks ago. 1 Thessalonians 1:9 10 (NKJV) 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. How you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and wait for His Son from heaven The first three attributes of the Christians in Thessalonica were faith, love, and hope In the closing two verses of the first chapter, we find another set of three. These are three actions. Page 5 of 8
The first is turning from idols, or turning away from the world. The second is turning to God. Did you know that those two actions describe the word repentance? John the Baptist preached Matthew 3:2 (NKJV) Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! Jesus preached Luke 13:5 (NKJV) unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Paul preached Acts 26:20b repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Doing works befitting repentance is living a life that continually is turning away from the ways of the world and turning to God with all of your heart and soul. But there was a third action that typified the Christians of that day - waiting for His Son from heaven. This describes those who are living with the anticipation of the eminent return of Jesus. Jesus came the first time as a babe, as a servant, as the Savior In His own words Jesus said John 12:46 48 (NKJV) 46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 He who Page 6 of 8
rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. But there is a second advent, a second coming of Christ. Look at the last two verses in your Bible with me Revelation 22:20 21 (NKJV) 20 He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Notice the color of the words Surely I am coming quickly. Those are the words of Jesus. John adds Even so, come, Lord Jesus For the most part, Christians have forgotten that Jesus said that He was coming again - this time as a conqueror - and that He is coming soon! We need to hear Peter again about this 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Paul to the Romans Romans 11:25 (NKJV) 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Fullness of the Gentiles - the end of the Gentile era on God s calendar. We ve been on that page of His calendar for over 2,000 years, but the Lord is not slack concerning this promise! He has been longsuffering toward us - waiting for us to turn from the ways of this world and turn to Him - waiting for us to repent. This will not go on for another 2,000 years. It may not even go on for another single year, or month, or day. He is coming quickly Page 7 of 8
I m not asking you if you believe this - I know you do. But are you living it? Are your actions indicating to God that you believe that Jesus could call us to be with Him any minute? Because before He comes to earth again - this time as a Conqueror and then a Judge - He will call us to be with Him. We call this the Rapture of the church. The fullness of the Gentiles is over and then God returns His attention back to the Jews. The Rapture 1 Corinthians 15:51 58 (NKJV) 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Vs. 52 - In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. The Christians in Thessalonica lived like they believed this - and so should we! Page 8 of 8