Back...new book...2 Thessalonians 1:1-5 says,...
Today's verses are 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, which read,
v.1,2 - Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We have a typical Pauline starting to this letter with identifying who he is and who he is with. We also receive who Paul is writing to, the church of the Thessalonians. Paul includes God and Jesus in the very first verses. The church of the Thessalonians is "in" God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a church that believes and holds to God and also that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, and the Lord of all. He prays or wishes upon them that they experience and continue to experience the grace and peace of God and Jesus that come from Them.
v.3, 4 - We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and afflictions which you endure.
We learn some things about this church in Thessalonica. First is that their faith is enlarging. Second is that their love toward one another is growing. Third is that they are persevering through suffering for being a church of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. In the midst of persecution their faith and their love is not decreasing but increasing.
Could this be a sign for the "real" church in America? I (Adam) think we are entering a time of persecution upon the church of America that is in God and the Lord Jesus Christ. The church that holds firmly to the Scriptures will and is starting to feel some pressure to compromise. Will our faith enlarge? Will our love for one another grow? Will we endure through the suffering of the persecution? Or will our faith in God and Jesus dwindle? Will our love for each other diminish like our time together? Will we compromise to escape persecution and suffering from it? I (Adam) think these are questions that the "real" church of America will have to deal with in the near future.
Paul speaks proudly of their fruit to the other churches. They are an example to others of how to respond in this situation. America has always been a leader and many times a leader in morality. We have been an example to the world. Things are changing in our culture but will the church of America continue to be an example to the world of keeping to the holiness of the Bible? Would someone speak of us at Union as a church that is showing this kind of fruit? I think what I like most about this fruit is that it is spoken of as enlarging and growing and enduring. It is not "just there" but it is going forward and you can see the results of it.
v.5 - This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.
How does Paul know that the church in Thessalonica is a "real" church? The church will be persecuted against just as Jesus was and the church will be persecuted against because of who it holds that Jesus is. Those who do not believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God will pressure the church to lessen its hold on this truth. The "real" church is only worthy of the kingdom of God if it holds to who is the King of the kingdom. Jesus suffered for the truth of the gospel, will we? If we do, it will be bring comfort and assurance that the church really is a church that not only believes some doctrinal statements but truly lives by them even in the face of the sufferings because of persecution. Oh to be called "worthy" by God as a church.
"Lord, help us to look at this second letter in light of our church and the church of America. Help us to see and follow what we are to do in light of all that is changing around us. May You find us worthy because our faith in enlarging and our love is growing and we are enduring through suffering of persecution for Your sake and because of who You are. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.1,2 - Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We have a typical Pauline starting to this letter with identifying who he is and who he is with. We also receive who Paul is writing to, the church of the Thessalonians. Paul includes God and Jesus in the very first verses. The church of the Thessalonians is "in" God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a church that believes and holds to God and also that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, and the Lord of all. He prays or wishes upon them that they experience and continue to experience the grace and peace of God and Jesus that come from Them.
v.3, 4 - We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and afflictions which you endure.
We learn some things about this church in Thessalonica. First is that their faith is enlarging. Second is that their love toward one another is growing. Third is that they are persevering through suffering for being a church of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. In the midst of persecution their faith and their love is not decreasing but increasing.
Could this be a sign for the "real" church in America? I (Adam) think we are entering a time of persecution upon the church of America that is in God and the Lord Jesus Christ. The church that holds firmly to the Scriptures will and is starting to feel some pressure to compromise. Will our faith enlarge? Will our love for one another grow? Will we endure through the suffering of the persecution? Or will our faith in God and Jesus dwindle? Will our love for each other diminish like our time together? Will we compromise to escape persecution and suffering from it? I (Adam) think these are questions that the "real" church of America will have to deal with in the near future.
Paul speaks proudly of their fruit to the other churches. They are an example to others of how to respond in this situation. America has always been a leader and many times a leader in morality. We have been an example to the world. Things are changing in our culture but will the church of America continue to be an example to the world of keeping to the holiness of the Bible? Would someone speak of us at Union as a church that is showing this kind of fruit? I think what I like most about this fruit is that it is spoken of as enlarging and growing and enduring. It is not "just there" but it is going forward and you can see the results of it.
v.5 - This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.
How does Paul know that the church in Thessalonica is a "real" church? The church will be persecuted against just as Jesus was and the church will be persecuted against because of who it holds that Jesus is. Those who do not believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God will pressure the church to lessen its hold on this truth. The "real" church is only worthy of the kingdom of God if it holds to who is the King of the kingdom. Jesus suffered for the truth of the gospel, will we? If we do, it will be bring comfort and assurance that the church really is a church that not only believes some doctrinal statements but truly lives by them even in the face of the sufferings because of persecution. Oh to be called "worthy" by God as a church.
"Lord, help us to look at this second letter in light of our church and the church of America. Help us to see and follow what we are to do in light of all that is changing around us. May You find us worthy because our faith in enlarging and our love is growing and we are enduring through suffering of persecution for Your sake and because of who You are. Amen."
Pastor Adam
Comments
Post a Comment