The Gospel & The Church - Part 2
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Introduction
Introduction
John Stott writes,
For 1 Thessalonians opens a window on to a newly planted church in the middle of the first century AD. It tells us how it came into being, what the apostle taught it, what were its strengths and weaknesses, its theological and moral problems, and how it was spreading the gospel.
What is of particular interest, because it applies to Christian communities in every age and place, is the interaction which the apostle portrays between the church and the gospel. He shows 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.
I’d like us to travel down the road with Dr. Stott for a few weeks and consider the relationship between, “The Gospel of God & The Church of God!”
I. The Church of God - (1:1b-4)
I. The Church of God - (1:1b-4)
Timothy discovers a vibrant, growing congregation! - (3:2, 6)
Q: How is this possible? A: This was God’s Church!
Paul describes it in four ways:
1. The Church is a Community which LIVES “...in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” - (1:1b)
1. The Church is a Community which LIVES “...in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” - (1:1b)
The Church—this Church, belongs to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Of all the things we can do, the church should only do what only the church can do—to be a community of faith that lives “...in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!”
2. The Church is a Community which is MARKED by “Grace and Peace” - (1:1c)
2. The Church is a Community which is MARKED by “Grace and Peace” - (1:1c)
“Grace to you and peace,” was a common greeting, both among Christians and others.
Within that greeting is an important truth: we are to be marked by grace and peace, because we have all RECEIVED grace and peace!
Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
If grace reigns “…through righteousness leading to eternal life,” shouldn’t grace also reign in the everyday life of a local church?
Like grace, we become instruments of peace when we experience the peace of God!
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
3. The Church is a Community which is DISTINGUISHED by Faith, Love, and Hope - (1:3)
3. The Church is a Community which is DISTINGUISHED by Faith, Love, and Hope - (1:3)
1 Thessalonians 1:3 ESVremembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Stott points out two aspects of these Christian qualities:
FIRST, Each is OUTGOING!
FIRST, Each is OUTGOING!
Faith is directed towards God, love towards others, and hope towards the future!
J.B. Lightfoot writes, “Faith rests on the past; love works in the present; hope looks to the future.”
They are all sure evidences of being born again, because they completely reorient our lives!
Stott - “The new birth means little or nothing if it does not pull us out of our fallen introversion and redirect us towards God, Christ and our fellow human beings.”
SECOND, Each is PRODUCTIVE!
SECOND, Each is PRODUCTIVE!
These are not abstract qualities, rather they have concrete, practical results!
Faith WORKS! - (James 2:14-26)
Love LABORS (from kopou - ‘intense labor, toil’)!
Hope ENDURES!
The key to remaining “…steadfast” is an UPWARD look!
It is “…steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ!”
Two questions: “Is God in control?” and “Do you believe that?”
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
Hear a couple of voices from Church history:
John Calvin did not exaggerate (in 1550) when he refers to this passage as, “…a brief definition of true Christianity.”
Johann Bengel likewise affirmed in 1866, that, “…in these (sc. faith, hope and love) the whole of Christianity […] consists.”
4. The Church is a Community which is LOVED and CHOSEN by God - (1:4)
4. The Church is a Community which is LOVED and CHOSEN by God - (1:4)
Again, from Stott,
To whatever denomination or tradition we may belong, the doctrine of election causes us difficulties and questions. To be sure, it is a truth which runs through Scripture, beginning with God’s call of Abraham (Gen 12:1) and later his choice of Israel ‘out of all nations’ to be his ‘treasured possession […] a kingdom of priests and a holy nation’ (Ex 19:5-6). This vocabulary is deliberately transferred in the New Testament to the Christian community.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Moreover, the topic of election is nearly always introduced for a practical purpose, in order to foster assurance (not presumption), holiness (not moral apathy), humility (not pride) and witness (not lazy selfishness).
But still no explanation of God’s election is given except God’s love.
The LOVE of God!
The LOVE of God!
It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
IN the same way, Paul unites the love of God and the election of God - (1:4)!
He chose us because He loves us!
This is a consistent message of the NT:
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
The CHOICE of God - (v.4b)
The CHOICE of God - (v.4b)
Do you know you were chosen by God?
As difficult as this may be to understand, or accept, it is TRUE!
ἐκλογὴν - Noun - “election, selection, choice, chosen” - Used 7 times in the NT.
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—
So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.
What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,
And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.
Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Whether you understand it, or not, you get to go to heaven because of God’s call and election!
ἐκλεκτός - Adjective - ‘chosen, select, elect’ - Used 23 times in the NT.
For many are called, but few are chosen.”
And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,
They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
ἐκλέγομαι - Verb - “choose, select, elect” - Also used 23 times in NT.
And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
Even though I do now pretend to understand how this all works (my free will and God’s election), I know it’s true. And I do not limit God to my capacity to understand God!
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Conclusion to Part Two...
Conclusion to Part Two...
What have we learned?
The Church is a community which lives in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Church is a community marked with grace and peace.
The Church is a community distinguished by faith, love, and hope.
The Church is a community which is loved and chosen by God.