1 Thessalonians 1 - The Model Conversion

1Thessalonians 1 Real Religion Summer Hill Church 17 June 2018 1. What does Real Religion look like? a. There is so much in religion that is spurious and phoney i. but what we want is real religion b. religion that is true I. That makes a difference to us in our messed up pattern of lives II. the kind of religious reality that changes a society c. In our text today we see how the Thessalonian’s changed - when they became Christians. i. And it's the kind of difference that changed the world I. within a generation Christianity had spread out of distant Palestine to be a threat to the Emperor in Rome d. Jesus died around 33 A.D. i. In 64 A.D. there are so many Christians who are so disliked in Rome that the Emperor Nero can blame them for the fire of Rome and have them persecuted. e. The letter of 1Thessalonians was written earlier than that because this is at the beginning of the spread of Christianity i. and a key part of that spread was the conversion of people such as in this northern Greek town called Thessaloniki or Salonika to this day - Mt Olympus ii. this conversion shows God at work in unexpected ways iii. Not in miracles or displays of power I. but in extraordinary life change 2. The Change in the Thessalonians a. Thessalonica i. Paul went to Thessalonica for three weeks and preached in the synagogue I. When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. Acts 17:1–3 ii. he caused such a stir in the synagogue by preaching Jesus resurrection - demonstrating that he was the Christ that the dispute spread out beyond the synagogue and was taken to the local Court I. There he was accused of preaching against Caesar a). preaching that there was another king - Jesus iii. Like all good lies it was partly true and I. indeed Paul was preaching a rival to Caesar - a different kind of King i). not a military or political king, not ruling in Rome or Jerusalem but in heaven. iv. Because of the riots, Paul left Thessalonica abruptly I. but he is very concerned for these new Christians - so he sent Timothy back v. And when he heard they were still following Christ - he wrote this letter. vi. it is possibly the oldest Christian document we have - written around 50 AD I. only 17 years after Jesus died and rose again vii. Come to 1 Thes 1 b. seeing the evidence of change I. Paul starts off by thanking God a). Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. vv1–2 II. He can see the work of God in their lives - and he gives thanks for that. i). Can people see the work of God in your lives? b). not just see that you’re a good person - but see that you are God's person? III. that’s what Paul could see in them! a). he saw their faith love and hope IV. You see them there in verse three a). We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. v3 V. But how are faith, love and hope visible ii. work produced by faith I. you can see Faith in the work it produces a). this is what the apostle James meant when he was writing and he said i). Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. James 2:18 b). See I can tell you I have faith in God i). But how do you know that I have faith in God? II. not just because I say it, but because faith in God should change me a). and Paul could see that in the Thessalonians because news of their faith had spread everywhere III. their genuine faith led to a visibly changed life iii. labour prompted by love a). And you can see that change in genuine love i). being displayed in our labour II. Love is not just a word a). in the Bible it’s not primarily an emotion either. III. Love is real concern for the other person that motivates sacrificial action for their good a). If you love, you will consistently put yourself out for others IV. the Thessalonian Christians were concerned for Paul's welfare a). and Paul was concerned for their welfare V. see chapter 3:12 a). May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 1Thessalonians 3:12 VI. Their love was in action for one another and for everybody and for the apostle a). it's just as Jesus told his disciples i). By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35 VII. genuine Christianity is not seen in badges, or church attendance, or jewellery or funny clothes - a). Dunlop Volleys i). Genuine Christianity is seen when we love one another. VIII. you can wear whatever you like - a). but if you do not love your fellow Christians - you are not Christian i). Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1John 4:8 iv. endurance inspired by hope a). The change is also seen in the endurance brought about by hope II. for while the gospel message is about the past - Jesus has paid - in his death - the penalty for sin and he has risen to new life i). it's really a message about the future III. Jesus is coming to judge the living and the dead in bringing God's wrath on sin and bringing God's mercy and forgiveness a). And as Paul was to write late from gaol i). For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 IV. See what he’s saying? - he can’t lose! a). they let me go I'm going to live for Christ and if they kill me then I gain! V. Christians have a hope for the future a). a hope for which we cling to even under persecution - especially under persecution VI. we’re not overcome by the meaninglessness of death and we don’t fear hell for ourselves a). so the Thessalonians, under severe persecution, stood firm i). They endured because of their hope because they believed in Jesus VII. And you see the difference whenever Christians come to death a). when you go to a Christian funeral we hear about the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ i). we remember that death is not the end and death has been defeated א. we hear of a sure and certain hope of eternal life VIII. the death and resurrection of Jesus assures us all of our future death and resurrection a). and so grief is transformed i). we still grieve - it’s always sad to lose a friend - a family member - but not with a hopeless grief - pretending they’ll live forever smiling down on us... b). the ways in which we can try and grieve without the hope of eternal life IX. Genuine Christians graves do not say rest in peace - a prayer because we can’t be sure... a). we declare boldly on our tombstones at peace it’s very different i). because we are sure of our hope and future X. Is that the way you think about your own ultimate future? a). if you think you save yourself it's arrogant to be sure of your eternal life because you’re never good enough XI. but if God saves you it's not arrogance a). Because you’re not relying on yourself, but on God c. Seeing the evidence of God I. but in their faith, love and hope Paul saw the evidence of God at work ii. Loved and chosen by God I. showing that they are loved and chosen by God a). For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. vv4–5 i). cgtheir election by God is shown by how the gospel changes them! II. And this comes through Paul’s words a). but Paul's words were not just Paul's words, they were God's words III. You see my words are just my words - but God's words are powerful and change hearts a). God opens people’s hearts to give them a knowledge of God in the truth of the gospel i). for whoever belongs to God will hear and recognise God’s voice IV. I know people who have come to know Christ, because they have read the Bible, with an open mind, and God spoke to them though his word. V. And they changed - you could see their faith, hope and love iii. power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction I. And the Thessalonians receive the gospel not only in word but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction iv. for being God's word it is very powerful I. It's the same word that created the world! v. and it’s inspired by the Holy Spirit! I. The same Spirit that brings new birth vi. being God's word it comes with full conviction - being completely persuaded I. The work of God is not primarily seen in wonders, it’s seen in people a). Even the devil can do wonders, vii. We see God’s work in people's lives being transformed by the word of the gospel I. Transformed into lives that work, labour and endure because of what they believe. viii. And it all comes from hearing the word of God I. People are changed - brought from darkness to light by the word of God! a). the persuasion is in what God says ix. the amazing miracle here is that people grasped the message and nothing was ever the same again d. Imitators of the apostle and of Jesus i. And so - they became imitators of the apostles and of Jesus I. but not just in their faith - they are imitators in persecution ii. And it is this suffering persecution that marked them out as genuine believers because they were like Paul and like the Lord himself I. They suffered persecution from their own people just like Paul and Jesus had iii. and it was their lives while suffering that showed Paul how genuine their work of faith and their labour of love and their endurance produced by hope was I. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. v6 iv. This is the powerful supernatural work of God: I. following a message that will leads to suffering, to persecution and yet receive it with joy a). because this message is more wonderful than any suffering it may ever bring me, there is so much more that God is doing through our suffering. v. But this outlook is not natural - it’s God at work 3. Real Conversion i. And we see what real conversion looks like in the New Testament I. if you want to know what it is to be a Christian ii. We see it here I. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. vv7–8 iii. Do you see what it meant for them? b. The news spread I. notice how the news spread ii. The Lord’s message I. firstly the message of the Lord - spreading because of their conversion a). What is this strange new teaching that that has revolutionised these believers in Thessalonica iii. Their faith I. secondly the news of their faith was spreading everywhere a). Not just some kind of internal change of mind because you can’t see that i). but the inner conviction of truth that’s working out in new relationships II. As they lived out the gospel - they’re not living like they used to live iv. The kind of reception I. and so the report about how they accepted Paul’s message was becoming news! a). people were talking about what happened in Thessalonica i). how they received Paul and his friends and how everything had changed v. It is the reception of this faith - that is spelt out for us in vv9-10 I. for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you 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—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. vv9–10 a). here is the genuine gospel message that transformed them vi. notice three parts to it I. they turn from idols II. to serve the living and true God III. and they wait for his Son from heaven vii. 1st this turning is what we the Bible calls repentance I. I used to live this way but now I'm going to live that way viii. idols exist in every age and every culture ix. they are false gods that people worship in place of true and living God x. We looked at a number of idols earlier this year - sermons online - listen again I. Idolatry of pleasure, the idolatry of career, the idolatry of money and the idolatry of family i). And we heard about the foolishness of idols in our first reading from Isaiah א. No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, “Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?” Isaiah 44:19 b). It’s foolish to worship idols because they are lifeless and false xi. But an idol is anything that we place in the place of God I. whatever makes sense of our lives or makes our day xii. It could be relationships or education or football I. even politics or career perhaps comfort food or alcohol or drugs xiii. Perhaps for you it’s possessions or sexual encounters I. the sense of security from good things like our family xiv. anything can be an idol I. But idols ultimately disappoint a). because they’re all false and dead xv. 2nd But they turn from idols to serve the true and living God I. who is nothing like the dead and false statues xvi. now they've turned from those idols to serve God for he is God I. That’s what it is to become a Christian xvii. I used to live this way but now I follow God I. so I turn away from all that and live differently serving the true and living God a). for me to live is Christ and to die is gain xviii. for the 3rd is to wait I. The Christian is waiting for Jesus- God’s son from heaven a). whom he raised from the dead and who rescues us from God's anger that is coming II. who gives us assurance of eternal life a). not because we are innocent i). but because he has taken our guilt and dealt with it ii). and we are confident in him 4. What real religion looks like a. Do you see it around you? i. real religion is seen in changed lives not in religious services, ceremonies, titles, robes, rules, buildings I. it’s seen in changed lives - lives changed by the spirit of God II. not seen in any miracles other than the miracle of new birth a). in someone being turned around by God ii. who will even face opposition from their friends and family with spiritual joy I. for they have been found by the saviour a). How do we feel about suffering in this life? Do we count it as little, because of the great worth of what God has in store for us? II. Are we absolutely committed to putting our hope in Christ… rather than our idols - whatever they might be for you a). We need to hear this call - over and over i). Turn, serve, wait - and see the difference that makes in our lives. b. Do you see it in you? i. what about you I. are you someone who has been changed by God? a). so that you know God as God and it has changed you ii. God today is calling to your heart - in his good news about Jesus. I. To put your trust in him. To love him a). And to turn and serve and wait i). it’s a big change, it’s a bit scary, but it is every bit worth it - because it totally transforms you, and brings you into that loving relationship with God, of Father and beloved child, that you were created for. II. If you would like to do that - let me know - connection card, iii. let's pray