The Bible Series 1 Thessalonians
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Perspective… WE ALL APPROACH SITUATIONS from unique perspectives. (Football Example)
Sometimes it is helpful to be instructed on what is the best perspective
Our view of things can be obstructed with certain perspectives
OFTEN… looking back gives us one of the clearest perspectives 20/20
Sometimes when we pause to look back we understand and approach what is in front of us with a better perspective…
Joshua before taking on the conquest of the land promised by God…
Reminds the people of where God has brought them, what He brought them through, and all His amazing work
The Prophets would point back to all God had done for them
Then they would point to the actions and sins that needed repented of
Paul in multiple letters so far has has looked at the Powerful Work of Christ
Then he challenges a response, action to be taken
Today, Paul will take the recipients of this letter back to their ROOTS…
He does this in order to encourage them and challenge them to further growth!
With this approach Paul will offer HOPE to his hearers and for us today we will discover that we too can have HOPE as we look at where our HOPE is DEEPLY ROOTED… 1 Thessalonians 1: 1-5
Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
Letter Info
Letter Info
Paul as he is ministering in Corinth… pauses to send a letter to a church he loves, he prays for, and is frequently on his mind and heart! NOTICE… Timothy and Silvanus are writing this with him!
Did you notice how grace is extended as Paul commends these faithful saints!
This commendation comes even as they are facing trials, AND they remain FAITHFUL in the midst!
I also want to draw your attention: THIS IS TO THE CHURCH (those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ)
The HOPE that Paul addresses and speaks of in this letter is not available to those apart from Christ
This is one of Paul’s earlier letters… he has just begun his second missionary journey.
Most scholars debate how much time he spent with this church originally but most likely it was a brief season.
With less time that preferred, Paul left in haste not fully knowing how strong the roots were
Paul unable to go to them sends Timothy, BOTH to encourage and see how they were doing
Timothy’s report spurs this letter…
Letter Overview
Letter Overview
Paul reflects back in the first three chapters of this letter.
He is overjoyed how this church that was planted is now so effective in sharing Christ with those around them
This is a healthy church, not just inward focused but SPREADING THE GOSPEL!
Paul recalls in Verse 9 how they, “turned to God away from idols” they serve a LIVING GOD NOW!
Verse 10 is clear that from the very beginning, even in Paul’s early teaching to them they understood a Pre-Tribulation view of Christ coming for His bride (the Church) 1 Thessalonians 1:10
and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.
Paul remembers how they worked with the people day and night
In the first three chapters he is consistently asking them to “RECALL”
Paul as he looks back demonstrates how their HOPE is rooted in the work God did drawing them to Himself.
Christ remains the CENTER of our hope...
Looking back we can see and remember that place in time where we understood our SIN, and in doing so took HOLD OF JESUS!
Paul has been absent from them, he hears of hard times, trials, difficulties, and he wants to learn about their progress…
Yesterday our son, Joseph, drove over to front range for an interview… there was a winter storm occuring, roads closed, and the traffic cams did not offer any good report either. I trust his driving, YET… I was concerned for his progress, checking the app, calling a couple times. (HOW ARE YOU DOING???)
Paul not able to have traffic cameras, phones, email, or even rapid modes of travel… was concerned
How is their progress
Have we toiled in vain, have they given up, have they strayed from the faith, have they returned to idols, believed the many lies out there?
A heavy heart and deep concern spurs him to send Timothy,
There Timothy is able to strengthen the faith of believers, check in, build up
Look at this report 1 Thessalonians 3:6-8
But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.
Paul gets the news back, decides he will encourage their HOPE, and clarify some things
Paul will also challenge them… THERE IS A REAL DANGER FOR THE BELIEVER TO GROW COMPLACENT!
Have a FORWARD MOVEMENT!!!
Have a FORWARD MOVEMENT!!!
To avoid complacent lives Paul writes to “continue to walk with God ALL THE MORE” then tells them what God’s will is for them… 1 Thessalonians 4:3-10
For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you. Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more,
After a bold challenge in their GROWTH… Paul looks to comfort these dear saints. They are grieving.
EVEN IN OUR GRIEF WE HAVE HOPE!
Paul says to them that we who know Christ do not grieve like the rest of the world does… NOTICE it is not saying we don’t grieve… we just grieve differently… with HOPE!
Many among them were dying, some put to death for their faith
Paul offers them this hope while teaching a powerful point on Christ coming! 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
He would continue and teach of the coming day of the Lord (GOD’s WRATH!)
Real quick I want to help clarify the advents of Christ (His comings) [show slide]
His first advent was as a baby, Emmanuel “God with us”
He lived, walked, died for sin, was buried, and rose to life!
Later He would ascend in the clouds
The “rapture” (raptio is Latin) for “Caught up” in Verse 17
The tribulation comes (more next week)
Then the Return of Christ… to earth to Rule (second advent)
I love that as Paul writes this letter we see HOPE when we look back at our salvation, we have HOPE even in the midst of grief and trials, and we can face them keeping the PERSPECTIVE of what is to come… A FOCUS on Jesus coming! We even have a HOPE in what is to come!
This understanding and perspective should impact how we live...
Live Holy
Live Holy
After considering the imminent coming of Christ for His bride… understanding the Hope we have Paul closes this letter once again declaring God’s Will for them…
With that perspective Paul says… Live Holy lives
With this as our perspective I want to close by reading 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.