Our New Testament reading this week from the Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer opens up St. Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica. For the next several weeks, up until the beginning of Advent, the New Testament readings will be from this beloved Epistle. Shortly before coming to Thessalonica, Paul and his missionary companion Silas had been in the city of Philippi where they had been unjustly scourged and jailed. After being released they were told to leave that city, and they traveled west just under 100 miles to Thessalonica, about a three to four days journey on foot. As was Paul’s custom, he spoke in the local synagogue about how Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Messiah, and they could receive salvation through His Name and shed Blood. This angered the Jews who did not believe. Within three weeks they started a violent riot, and Paul’s life was seriously threatened again. Again, he and his companions fled to the nearby city of Berea, and then were forced to leave, traveling further south to Athens (Acts 17:1-15). This letter to the brand new church in Thessalonica was written by Paul within a few months of his fleeing the city for his life, to encourage them as they also were experiencing persecution and opposition.
Paul began his letter with his usual greeting and blessing of God’s grace and peace (vs. 1). Grace always comes first, and then peace follows. A person cannot experience true peace with God until he first experiences God’s saving grace. Paul also affirmed, right from the start, the deity of Christ, and also the distinct personhood of the Father and the Son. He also stated that the Church, including these new believers in Thessalonica, are “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” They are united with Him through salvation. The church is not merely a social organization, but a spiritual body rooted in God Himself.
As Paul continued on, he gave thanks for their good example of Christian living, highlighting three characteristics or evidences of the spiritual life they, and all Christians should have (vs. 2-3). First was their work of faith. True faith will show forth works. Paul was not teaching salvation by works. Rather, genuine faith will produce works (James 2:17). Faith that never affects one's conduct is questionable faith. The second was their labor of love. The Thessalonians served Jesus not out of obligation but out of love. Love for Him will motivate us to service and sacrifice. The third evidence was their patience of hope. Biblical hope is a confident expectation. Their confidence in Jesus’ return enabled them to endure persecution and hardship. A mature Christian will possess all three of these characteristics.
Paul knew that they were genuine believers by looking at their repentance, their faith, and their transformed lives (vs. 4-5). These demonstrated the fruits of salvation. When the Gospel is preached, it is more than just information. It is God’s power to save sinners. When they received the Gospel, accepting God’s salvation through faith, they followed the godly examples of Paul and Silas (vs. 6). They received the Word, which brought both affliction and Spirit-producing joy. The natural response to suffering is discouragement, but with the Holy Spirit, they had joy.
The Thessalonians became examples to other churches (vs. 7-8). Their testimony rang throughout the region, and they became known for their faithfulness and evangelism. A healthy church does not merely preserve truth, it proclaims truth. Their witness extended beyond their city.
The last couple of verses of this Scripture passage give strong evidence of their conversion (vs.9-10). Salvation involves turning toward God. It is not merely intellectual agreement, but also a coming to God through Jesus. Repentance involves turning from sin and false worship, abandoning any type of idol. Salvation produces service. Believers are not saved by works, but unto works. The Thessalonians also lived in expectation of Christ’s return, which was a dominant theme throughout this letter.
The Thessalonian believers were excited about their faith, and told everyone they could, despite persecution. How many believers today get extremely excited about their faith? How often do you proclaim the saving truth of Jesus as loudly as a sports fan proclaims their allegiance to their favorite team? Are we anxious when our favorite team loses, but indifferent about the spiritually lost? Are we passionate about politics but quiet about the Lord? We have the responsibility of sharing with the world who Jesus is and what He has done for us. We should display the same reality of transformed lives and steadfast hope in the Lord Jesus as the Thessalonian Church did.
No comments:
Post a Comment