WELCOME TO STUDIES IN I THESSALONIANS

Chapter 1

How can a young man keep his way pure? " By living according to your Word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Ps. 119:9-11) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. (II Tim 3:16) The epistle of I Thessalonians is the first letter inspired by the Holy Spirit written by Paul. It was written to people who had been Christians less than one year. Therefore, this book should hold a very important place in the life of every person who has placed his or her faith in the person of Christ and has been born into His family.

The city of Thessalonica was founded in 316 B.C and was a main trade route in that part of the world. It was named after the half sister of Alexander the Great. One of the reasons that the faith of these new Christians had such an impact was their unique position on the main trade route of this area of the world. They lived the reality of II Corinthians 5:17. "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come." True faith in Christ makes a life- style change. What has changed in your life since Christ came into your life?

The founding of the Church at Thessalonica is recorded for us in Act 17:1-9 . Paul, having come to the city, went into the synagogue to reason with them out of the Scriptures and declared that Jesus was the Christ of God, the Messiah. "To the Jew first," (Romans 1;16) was Paul's method in the early Church. I'm afraid, however, we in the latter day Church have forgotten a Biblical directive. As Paul presented the Lord Jesus Christ to these people, they were challenged to accept or reject the gospel message. We read that a number of the Greeks believed and some of the Jews. Those Jews who rejected the gospel message were led to envy and sought to destroy the testimony of Christ as they had rushed to crucify Him. When the death, burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus are preached, every human being must make a choice to accept or reject what he or she has heard. Jesus said in Matthew 12:30, "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad."

I challenge you to consider Christ and repent of your sins and call upon His name. Acts 4:12 declares, "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Romans 10:13 declares, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

The ministry of Paul lasted only a month, and he had to flee because of the serious opposition mounted against his ministry. The local Church had been established, and a surprising amount of Church doctrine had been taught. I believe this emphasizes the fact that new Christians can learn and be taught doctrine. The return of Christ that was promised at His ascension is mentioned in every chapter of this book. Paul deals with salvation, service, sanctification, resurrection, safety of the believer and many others. I believe this emphasizes that whether you have been saved a month or many years, the study and understanding of God's Word is possible because the Holy Spirit is our teacher. I John 2:27 teaches, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you; but as the same anointing teacheth you all things, and is true, and is not lie."

As the book opens, Paul gives his greeting and mentions Silas and Timothy who probably accompanied him to Thessalonica. The local assembly is greeted as the Church of the Thessalonians. This refers to those who had received Christ as Lord and Savior. You do not join a Church and then become a Christian; you first must receive Christ and then seek out the fellowship of a local assembly of believers. The position of these Christians was in God our Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing could change this position, and this was a source of strength and courage to these oppressed people. Grace and peace sum up the Christian experience. The source of peace is the grace of God. How rich is the person, who by faith has trusted God's Word as to his or her reality. Rom 5:11 declares, "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:6,7) Paul uses this example of prayer in verse two making the earmark of this epistle praise and thanksgiving. Paul in prayer thanked God for them and prayed for them all whether strong or weak in the faith. Most of us are quick to accept the strong but slow to accept those we consider weaker. In Rom 14:1 we are told, "Him that is weak in the faith receive, but not to doubtful desputation." The Father has committed all judgment to the Son; and unless you think you are Christ, remember Rom 14:10, "But why dost thou judge your brother? Or why dost thou set at naught your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." Making mention of you in my prayers reveals to us that Paul more than preached; he prayed on a continuing basis for them. As God's true children we are to pray for one another, and that prayer should start at home and reach out in an ever widening circle. We have a God given responsibility to pray for our mates and our children on a daily basis. As Christians we are to pray for one another faithfully. Ephesians 6:18 declares, " Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

In I Thessalonians verse three we have three steps to Godly living. First is a work of faith and this is the response of the soul to the life giving Word of God. This work of faith is the initial act of belief on the part of the one who hears the voice of the Son of God and accepts Christ as Lord and master of his life. Out of that experience will come, the second part, a labor of love described in I Thessalonians 1:9 as serving the living and true God. As breathing is to a human child so will a work for God be in the life of a true Christian. James 2:26 states, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." The third part of the Godly life is "patience of hope" described in I Thessalonians verse 10 as waiting for His Son from heaven. Hope caused them to endure with patience all the trials of life that came against them. Hope is a key element in the human person and if destroyed leads to despair. We are to "Be looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ." (Titus 3:13) In many Christian circles this truth has been sadly neglected, and there seems to be an abundance of joyless and lifeless people who claim to be Christians as a result.

The doctrine of election is dealt with in I Thessalonians verse four, and in our day it seems many who have been Christians for years know little about this doctrine. The fact is given here; we have been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. This is simply God's omniscience, all knowing. Because He is God, He knows the end from the beginning as taught in Psalms 139:1-6. In the New Testament Ephesians 1:4 gives a fuller view of this doctrine. He simply loved us before we loved Him as taught in the great doctrinal book to the Church in Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth His love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

The Godly life of the Thessalonian believers is dealt with in I Thessalonians verse 1:5-10 and shows why Paul was so sure of their election. Paul knew of their election because of the way they received the gospel. It was not just words, but they experienced the power. In Romans 1:16 we see the moral and spiritual dynamic that the gospel brings into the life of the child of God. These people were not moved by Paul's eloquence but motivated and given life and power by the Holy Spirit. Their assurance was in the finished work of Christ, and they could say with Paul as he wrote in II Timothy 1:12, "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." In I Thessalonians verse six it is made clear that Paul and his fellow servants made an impact on these new believers. As they followed the teachings of Christ, they could say, "Follow us" as we follow the Lord. They received the Word in affliction and joy. In deep and sincere repentance they moved into their new faith. Their deep joy was realized because of the inner peace of knowing, their sins were forgiven, and their focus was on the goal of Heaven as their home. These people suffered much because of their new found faith in Christ, even physical death.

Today there seems little joy even in so called Christian lives, and the deep joy is missing. The feel good message of today with material goods promised was a message unknown by the original preachers of God's Word. A bold testimony for God is given in I Thessalonians verse seven and eight. These new baby Christians were such examples that all in the surrounding areas heard of their faith. Paul was writing this letter from Corinth, which was the chief city of Achaia, a neighboring providence. The faith of these young Christians was not a silent faith but one that had been heard abroad. They lived Ps 107:2, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the the enemy." There attitude wasn't I'm here undercover, brother; don't mess with me.

The final two verses of I Thessalonians Chapter 1: 9,10, the Christian life is made plain. We turn to God from idols. This is not moral reform but a complete turning about and going the other way. As one trusts Christ, he or she must turn from sin and wickedness. The power of God in a life is a beautiful thing to witness. To serve the living and true God brings peace of mind. Paul knew of their election and their service to God, and theme life-style change gave evidence of the power of God. Notice their goal was to wait for His Son from heaven whom God had raised from the dead. The life of the child of God should have as its theme the return of Christ for the Church, the Ecclesia. In all this we shall be delivered from the wrath to come. This could not mean the wrath of God on their sin, for Rom. 8:1 makes it clear their sins have been forgiven. This does mean that God promises deliverance from His wrath which shall be displayed on the earth during the tribulation. We do believe the Bible teaches in II Thessalonian 5:9 and in Revelation 3:10 that we who have trusted Christ will be delivered from the wrath to come.