Characteristics of a Christ-like Church

This letter was written just a few months after the first letter which we just finished. We know that even though Paul was unable to visit with the church, he was still in communication with them. As a result, he had some things which needed to be addressed, some of which sounds like had come up fairly recently.

In the last letter, Paul had dealt a bit with end times theology, so he touched on that issue again. It seems that he needed to do this because there were some false teachers who were telling the people that the judgment of the Day of the Lord had come upon them already, trying to convince them that this was resulting in their intense persecution. There were some who evidently used Paul’s name and his associates as also teaching this, which Paul had to correct.

Paul also had to correct some wrong-headed thinking that resulted in some people no longer being productive, thinking that they needed to be ready for the Lord’s return, by doing nothing. This may have also had something to do with his discussion of church discipline.

Today, we will be looking at some characteristics that Paul felt were quite good at the Thessalonian church. In fact, these are qualities that we could hope for in our church, even as they are already happening.

We all should be pursuing characteristics of a Christ-like Church.

Based upon what many churches today look at in terms of success, the church in Thessalonica would not even be listed.

Comrades in Ministry - 1.1a

2 Thessalonians 1:1 (NASB95)

Paul and Silvanus and Timothy,

If the Thessalonian church were to be viewed through the same lens of how western civilization views a successful church, it would never have been noticed at all. They were not a huge megachurch. They did not have a world renown preacher or speaker. The congregation was not made up of a bunch of who’s who in society. Yet we’re about to see Paul share some wonderful things about the church that has them elevated in his eyes.

First of all, he’s going to introduce himself and his comrades in ministry to the church. Those three individuals were the founders of the church. In informing them that he was the writer, he doesn’t take time to mention that he was an apostle or what his role was for the early church. Paul merely introduces himself like anybody else, which seems to be another indicator of his close relationship to these believers. Of course, we remember that Paul was a Jew who also had Roman citizenship.

Then he introduces Silvanus, who is also known as Silas. All three of them have unique pedigrees. Silas was the Jewish name; however, since he was also a Roman citizen, his Roman name was Silvanus.

Finally, Timothy is introduced. We recall that Timothy probably came to Christ under Paul’s ministry and was probably mentored or discipled under Paul. Timothy was different in that his mother was Jewish, while his father was a Gentile. He was added to Paul’s team on the second missionary journey. This was when the church began at Thessalonica.

So let’s take some time and look at some of the characteristics that Paul shares that are found in a Christ-like church.

Conversion Was Real. - 1.1b-2

2 Thessalonians 1:1–2 (NASB95)

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.

There is a word which Paul uses that is incredibly small, yet it contains the key to understanding this verse; in. This little word lets it be known that those in the church were genuine believers and were truly partakers of eternal life, because they were in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. What an appropriate reminder to the church that because of their saving relationship with Jesus Christ, they were children of God the Father and were under His care even in the midst of their most horrific days.

He then gives the wonderful greeting of Grace and peace. Because we are part of God’s family since Christ purchased our salvation, we are reminded that God extended His grace to us, which none of us deserved. As a result, we have peace with God.

This little section also reminds us that Christ is God and has full equality with God, since both are the source of grace and peace.

Not only was their conversion real, but their faith was still growing.

Continuing Growth of Faith. - 1.3a

2 Thessalonians 1:3 (NASB95)

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged

Paul uses an interesting word at the beginning of this verse; ought. In the Greek language, the word comes across as if it is a responsibility and that there’s really not any choice, but to give thanks. Of course, this is directed to God, since He is the One Who has done such an amazing work in their lives.

Again, Paul was not giving thanks because of what the world might think is a good thing. The primary reason for giving thanks, is that as a result of their salvation, was that their faith was greatly enlarged. Again, we find the Greek compound word for this carries an incredible description; increased beyond measure or beyond expectations. Consider in the last letter, Paul had prayed that he would be allowed to complete what was lacking in faith. Here, it seems that he is noticing that God answered that prayer in a powerful way.

Isn’t it interesting that the Thessalonians had been undergoing some pretty intense persecution, plus they were experiencing some false teaching trying to discourage or confuse them; yet they were still growing in their faith by leaps and bounds?

My friends, time and again, persecution either causes a false faith to fail, or a genuine faith to flourish. This is also seen throughout the Bible with many different characters showing God’s strong hand to increase faith during troubling times.

It has been stated that when a genuine believer goes through troubling times, it almost always causes us to go to God, knowing that He’s the only One Who can help. We truly recognize our complete dependence upon Him, especially when we find ourselves in helpless situations.

This continuing growth of faith leads into a love which keeps on growing.

Continuing Growth of Love - 1.3b

2 Thessalonians 1:3 (NASB95)

and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;

Timothy must have reported back after Paul’s first letter that, in fact, the Thessalonians’ love was continuing to grow towards each other. Regardless of what the enemy attempted to do to this body of believers, their love kept on increasing for each other.

Our culture, especially around the middle of February, equates love with intense emotions or passions. Oftentimes, people see what is supposed to be love and explain, aaaahhhhh! Friends, love is a choice, not simply an emotion. As seen among Christians, it should be an intense desire to serve one another, as well as to encourage and come alongside one another, because we are brothers and sisters with each other. In fact, you will recall that this was the new commandment Jesus gave in John 13:34–35 ““A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””

Folks, these characteristics, which Paul has just given praise to God for the Thessalonians, should be earmarks for any group of individuals who are truly born again, being made new creations in Christ Jesus.

Yet, even amidst the persecution, there is another area that stands out which shows their reliance on God.

Congrats for Their Perseverance and Faith - 1.4

2 Thessalonians 1:4 (NASB95)

therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

Considering that Paul was unable to meet with them face-to-face, it would stand to reason that he would be concerned that hard times would cause great anguish among the church which might cause them to lose hope. We also see that Paul lets the church know that all three of them were speaking proudly to the other churches about the fact that, in spite of their persecutions and afflictions, there were persevering and continuing to have hope. They were being presented to other believers as living examples of having hope, regardless of the attacks they were receiving. Interestingly, the word for persecutions is used primarily when describing when Christians are attacked mainly because of their profession of faith and their Christian lifestyle.

It’s important to understand that their perseverance wasn’t just a display of hanging in there as if there’s no other options. This perseverance is a word which shows deep patience and a boldness as they undergo terrible times. It is also a hope that is not wishful thinking, but a joyful hope. The Thessalonians were nowhere close to renouncing their faith in any way, shape, or form. Even though this was a continuing, current issue of being under attack, they were still enduring.

How can this possibly be? Because they had a kingdom attitude.

Kingdom Attitude is Obvious. - 1.5

2 Thessalonians 1:5 (NASB95)

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.

Once again, when we consider the western, or modern perspective of what makes a successful church, you get the strong impression it is all about pleasing people. However, the Thessalonian church seemed to have very much a different perspective; theirs was a Kingdom perspective. Their eyes truly seemed to be focused on Christ and the kingdom of God, caring nothing for the world and what it offered.

The phrase plain indication speaks to the issue of proof. With all that was taking place, the evidence pointed to the fact that they belonged to God. All that was happening in their lives, as well as our lives, which can be so painful, those things are designed to perform a work in us to make us more like Christ. It was clear that God was continuing to work in their lives.

Leon Morris, a renowned New Testament scholar, offers some helpful insight. The New Testament does not look on suffering in quite the same way as do most modern people. To us it is in itself an evil, something to be avoided at all costs. Now while the New Testament does not gloss over this aspect of suffering it does not lose sight either of the fact that in the good providence of God suffering is often the means of working out God’s eternal purpose. It develops in the sufferers qualities of character. It teaches valuable lessons. Suffering is not thought of as something which may possibly be avoided by the Christian. For him it is inevitable. He is ordained to it (1 Thess. 3:3). He must live out his life and develop his Christian character in a world which is dominated by non-Christian ideas. His faith is not some fragile thing, to be kept in a kind of spiritual cotton wool, insulated from all shocks. It is robust. It is to be manifested in the fires of trouble, and in the furnace of affliction. And not only is it to be manifested there, but in part at any rate, it is to be fashioned in such places. The very troubles and afflictions which the world heaps on the believer become, under God, the means of making him what he ought to be. Suffering, when we have come to regard it in this light, is not to be thought of as evidence that God has forsaken us, but as evidence that God is with us. Paul can rejoice that he fills up “that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church” (Col. 1:24). Such suffering is a vivid token of the presence of God.

Conclusion

If nothing else, we know for certain that God does not look at a church as being successful or pleasing to Him, based on what this world may think. God has never been focused on outward appearances, but rather on what is going on inside people. For what is happening inside a person impacts what is happening on the outside. And if a person has truly been born again, then transformation should be happening.

From this passage today, it seems obvious that what is important, is that brothers and sisters in Christ are growing in their faith, growing in their love, having a hope that continues regardless of what’s happening, while continuing to keep our focus on God’s kingdom.