Simply Thessalonians
Bible Matters 560: Simply Thessalonians
Paul was no stranger to the preaching of Christianity. He wreaked havoc onto the early church. He was responsible for the stoning of the Apostle Stephen. He heard the preaching. He witnessed the will of men that were willing to die than to deny the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Acts 8:1-3 – And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Following his born-again conversion on the way to Damascus, Paul was met by Ananias. Paul received his sight and was filled with the Holy Ghost. Paul was respected as a Pharisee. He immediately started to teach the gospel the Jesus delivered in the synagogues.
Acts 9:15-17,20 – But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou might receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Paul was educated in all matters and manners of the Jewish faith. Paul absolutely knew that the truth in any setting is established out of the mouth of two or three witnesses. That was the Jewish legal standard concerning the judgement of man. God needed Paul to witness to the Romans and Gentiles. Like the book in the ministry, “New Beginning”, this was the new beginning point in time for the Christian church.
Multiple chapters in “New Beginning” use the preponderance of evidence standard for understanding God’s word. The New Testament is the compiled transcripts of eight witnesses that either walked with Jesus, were brothers of or recruited by him. God’s word is presented in the contract given by God in the New Testament for the Jew and Gentile. You must use this contract to establish the basics of your belief in Jesus Christ. It is clear that God wanted you to use his word to gain wisdom. God wants you to study his word to grow in grace, knowledge and righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. The scripture is not open to private interpretation. A deceiver can’t take a single verse and impose his own interpretation of the verse for false doctrine, to control man or introduce a religious law or belief that God supposedly wants you to follow. The preponderance of evidence standard should be used to study and establish your life with God. Remember, on judgement day, you will stand before God.
Paul was an educated teacher. There is no doubt, that as he grew in the knowledge of the gospel that Jesus brought, his messages became clearer and clearer. The six-point gospel of Love contained in Galatians and Thessalonians early epistles are dwarfed by the gospel of Love contained in Timothy and Titus. If you want to get rooted in God’s gospel, then go read Timothy Gospel of Love and Simply Titus.
The gospel of Love is simply presented in Thessalonians. The preponderance of evidence is overwhelming. Let’s review.
1. Believe in God the Almighty
1 Thessalonians 1:4,9 – Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. [9] For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
2. Repent of your sins and surrender to God. Your walk should be pleasing to God.
1 Thessalonians 2:10-13 – Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-7 – Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
2 Thessalonians 3:3,6,9 – But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
3. Judge no one
2 Thessalonians 1:3,6-9 – We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2 Thessalonians 3:3,6,11 – But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
4. Love God
1 Thessalonians 4:4 – That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
1 Thessalonians 5:2,16-27 – For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
2 Thessalonians – 2:13,15-17 – But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
5. Love your neighbor
1 Thessalonians 3:12 – And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
1 Thessalonians 4:6-7,9-10,12 – That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
1 Thessalonians 5:2,14-15 – For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 – We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith grows exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other abounds;
6. Endure to the end for the hope of everlasting life
1 Thessalonians 3:13 – To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
1 Thessalonians 4:6-7,9-10,16-17 – That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:2,5-8 – For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation
2 Thessalonians 1:3-6 – We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
2 Thessalonians 2:16 – Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
Paul lays out the gospel of Love, simply to the Thessalonians. The conclusion is clear. God wants you to live God’s gospel of Love.
To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.