The Hope of Salvation: Gospel Mannerisms
Notes
Transcript
For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
From time to time a follower of Jesus will wonder if they are behaving themselves in a manner that is effective for Christ. Sometimes we evaluate how we feel based on what is happening around us. Specifically how others seem to respond to our mannerisms.
It seems that Paul had this concern as well.
Fond of their Testimony
Fond of their Testimony
Their testimony was one of true repentance and faith towards God.
The type of idolatry found in Thessalonica is does not seem very likely to be followed in America. But the truth is we have just as much if not more idolatry in 21st century postmodernism. The human heart is an idol factory
1 & 2 Thessalonians—The Hope of Salvation (Chapter 6: All of Life Is Repentance (1 Thessalonians 1:9–10))
“Sin isn’t only doing bad things, it is more fundamentally making good things into ultimate things. Sin is building your life and meaning on anything, even a very good thing, more than on God. Whatever we build our life on will drive us and enslave us. Sin is primarily idolatry.” Tim Keller
Realizing that there is nothing we do (religiously) or man can make (humanism). That will satisfy the just demands of a holy God. We must lay it all aside and trust in Christ.
Repentance is more than feeling bad about your sin debt. It is an acknowledgment of the fact that our perceived ideas about God and going to heaven are wrong and then turning from those to accepting the truth that God reveals in His Word, that He is the only true God. The only way to be accepted by Him is by placing our faith in His Son.
True repentance is a movement and process in seeing things the way God sees them.
Fixed Upon Biblical Teaching
Fixed Upon Biblical Teaching
After repentance and then faith we have a new purpose of obedience to God.
We desire to please God.
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
What a great example this passage gives us of repentance. Those persuaded by the Greek mythology of Mount Olympus would set their face and feet towards the mount just 50 miles from Thessalonica. Once they see their depravity and place their faith in Christ their feet turn away from Mt. Olympus and towards Gospel living.
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Focused on the Testator
Focused on the Testator
Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands.
They have mouths, but they speak not: Eyes have they, but they see not:
They have ears, but they hear not: Noses have they, but they smell not:
They have hands, but they handle not: Feet have they, but they walk not: Neither speak they through their throat.
They that make them are like unto them; So is every one that trusteth in them.
O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: He is their help and their shield.
You can grieve the Spirit when you focus on these human programs and devices. We must repent and place our face toward the Savior once again see things the way God does.