The Gospel & the Church - Part 5

Review...

For the last several weeks we have been lookng at, “...how the gospel creates the church and the church spreads the gospel, and how the gospel shapes the church, as the church seeks to live a life that is worthy of the gospel” (John Stott).

I. The Church of God - (1:1b-4)

The Church is a Community which LIVES “...in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” - (1:1b)

The Church is a Community which is MARKED by “Grace and Peace” - (1:1c)

The Church is a Community which is DISTINGUISHED by Faith, Love, and Hope - (1:3)

The Church is a Community which is LOVED and CHOSEN by God - (1:4)

II. The Gospel of God - (1:5-10)

There are three clear stages of the progress of the gospel in Thessalonica: First, “…our gospel came to you” (v.5). Second, “…you received the word” (v.6). And third, “…the word of the Lord sounded forth from you” (v.8).It came to you; your received it; and you passed it on!

This sequence is God’s continuing plan for making disciples of all nations!

A. “…our gospel came to you” - (v.5)

Four ways the gospel came to them...

1. “…not only in word”

Certainly, it was not with ONLY IN word, but it was with words! It did require a messenger.

2. “…in power” - ἐν δυνάμει

Romans 1:16 ESV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

3. “…in the Holy Spirit”

(1 Corinthians 2:9-14)

4. “…with full conviction”

Conviction speaks, NOT to the content of the preacher’s message, but to his or her’s confidence in the message!

(v.5b) - “You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.”

Having given a description of his preaching of the gospel, now Paul gives an equally full description of the Thessalonians’ receiving of it.

1. “And you became imitators of us and of the Lord...”

The progression is interesting and practical. You first tend to imitate the person or persons who led you to the Lord—and there’s nothing wrong with that!

HOWEVER, as you mature as a believer, you become more of an imitator of Jesus Christ!

Ephesians 5:1 ESV

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

The more you walk like Jesus, the more difficult the journey!

2. “…for you received the word in much affliction...”

2 Timothy 3:12 ESV

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

The good news is, the Devil doesn’t get the last word (or emotion)!

3. “…with the joy of the Holy Spirit”

The same Spirit who gave power to those who preached the gospel gave joy to those who received it!

4. “…so that you became an example to all believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.” - (v.7)

Dr. Leon Morris - “…the imitators in their turn were imitated.”

LESSON...

C. “…the word of the Lord sounded forth from you” - (v.8)

The Greek word is, “ἐξήχηται (ex-say-ee-tai),” occurs nowhere else in the NT, and is from echos, and echo or noise.

According to the TDNT, it can mean to ‘sound, ring, peal or boom’. It was used in the LXX of loud noises!

The POINT: the Gospel makes a loud noise!

But MORE than just the Gospel that reverberated through the hills and valleys of Greece:

(v.8b) - “…but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.”

Whereas the Gospel needs to be rung out loud and clear, one’s faith is usually much quieter, but no with less of an impact!

(1 Thessalonians 4:9-12)

It’s important to note that the impact of their faith was not something Paul had to observe and report, but rather,

(v.9a) - “For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you...”

In this “report” we see a snapshot of Christian conversion: (1) a decisive break with idols, (2) an active service of God, and (3) a patient waiting for Christ.

1. (v.9b) - “…how you turned to God from idols”

The verb translated ‘turned’ (ἐπεστρέψατε) became an almost technical term for conversion, which is a turn from sin to Christ, from darkness to light, from lies to truth, and from idols to God.

Mark 4:10–12 ESV

And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that “ ‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’ ”

Luke 22:32 ESV

but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Acts 3:19 ESV

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

Acts 9:32–35 ESV

Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

Acts 11:21 ESV

And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

(Acts 14:8-15)

Acts 26:18–20 ESV

to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

2 Corinthians 3:16 ESV

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.

1 Peter 2:25 ESV

For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

I also like the use of the word, “turn.”

Which implies not just repentance (is a change of mind), but of a re-orientation of one’s life!

Because you have turned, your life is now going in a completely new direction!

Which leads to the second aspect of Christian conversion...

2. (v.9c) - “…to serve the living and true God.”

Stott: “The claim to have turned to God from idols is manifestly bogus if it does not result in serving the God to whom we have turned.”Jesus had a very clear message to Satan in this regard:

Matthew 4:10 ESV

Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ”

It’s precisely because God is “…living and true” that we respond in service!

An idol is neither living, nor true, and therefore any response is futile and a complete waste of time and effort!

3. (v.10) - “…and to wait for his Son from heaven”

Whereas ‘serving’ is active, ‘waiting’ is passive!

Stott: “In Christian terms ‘serving is getting busy for Christ on earth, while ‘waiting’ is looking for Christ to come from heaven. Yet these two are not incompatible. On the contrary, each balances the other. On one hand, however hard we work and serve, there are limits to what we can accomplish. We can only improve society; we cannot perfect it.”

In this first reference in the letter to the Return of Jesus, we learn two final truths from Chapter 1:

FIRST, Jesus is further described as the One “…whom he raised from the dead.”

The consistent teaching of the NT is that the Resurrection is proof that Jesus is the Son of God!

Romans 1:4 ESV

and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

​SECOND, Jesus is the One, “…who delivers us from the wrath to come.”

This chapter, like every chapter in this letter, closes with a reference to the Return: (1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:16-18; 5:23)

The REASON we can wait patiently is because Jesus is living, and true, and He is COMING AGAIN!