1 Thessalonians 2

“For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive.” (1 Thessalonians 2:3)

Suggested: read all of chapter 2.

In this chapter Paul discusses his ministry in founding the Thessalonian church, and it may be instructive to see what he reveals about his approach to teaching.

Paul first talks about the background of his coming to the city, and how that, in spite of all the harsh treatment he had suffered in Phillipi, he “had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict” (v. 2). This leads me to question my own boldness in proclaiming the gospel. Do I really teach as if I’m bringing good news?

Paul continues with what his teaching did NOT contain: no error, no impurity, no intent to deceive. How does that compare to our own approach to teaching the gospel? Do we attempt to tie up naysayers in logical knots, or find slick ways to slide the Word in under the door? Do we use scare tactics of fire and brimstone? Or, do we simply present God’s word as Paul did, in a manner pleasing to God, and let His Word do its own work in human hearts? Do we trust God to know whom He has elected, and to prepare their hearts to respond to Him? We have His assurance in Isaiah 55:10-11 that His Word will accomplish what He has set out for it to do. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.“

Paul make the claim in these verses that “we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel“. How was Paul approved? How can you and I be approved to be God’s ambassador to the lost? Paul answers that question in his second letter to Timothy. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 ESV) You may be more familiar with the wording of other translations, which use words like “study” (KJV), “work hard” (NLT), “make every effort” (Berean), or “be diligent” (NASB). However we translate it, there’s work involved. I must ask myself here, am I doing the work? What more could I be doing?

Before I close, I want to focus a moment on Paul’s final phrase in verse 13: “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” The Word of God is not a text of facts which we are to simply know. It’s not a story to simply be believed as an intellectual acceptance of fact. The Word of God should constantly be at work within us!

How is this possible? God’s Word is to be known, yes, but it needs to be the subject of constant meditation. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2) “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.” (Joshua 1:8)

Jesus’ disciples go beyond meditation; God’s Word is where they live (abide). “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.” (John 8:31) True disciples can’t get through the day without the Word of God, both directing and motivating their daily lives.

That’s what we’re attempting to do in this blog; to abide in the Word, by examining it closely for lessons to be learned, and applying it to how we live each day. If the Word of God does not change how we think, how we feel, how we live and how we interact, do we have any legitimate claim to be Jesus’ disciples?

Philippians 1:1-11

We begin a new book today, the last letter Paul wrote to a church or group of people. His following letters were written to individuals, Titus and Timothy.

Paul’s visit to Phillipi and his experiences there are recorded in Acts 16. Although a number of people were saved there and added to the Church, not all of Paul’s experiences would be regarded by most of us as positive. One of Paul’s converts was his jailer!

As Paul begins his letter, he sets a tone of joy which will continue consistently throughout his message to his church in Phillipi, which was his first church in Europe. He begins with “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you” (v. 3). Warren Wiersbe asks a most thought-provoking question: Could our pastors, or elders, say the same of us? Is my life, I would ask, and my expression of my faith, such that a church leader could be thankful for it?

In the next verse, Paul reveals that he consistently prays for the believers in Phillipi. Am I following Paul’s example and praying for the believers in my circle of contacts, expressing my joy in their faithfulness? I believe most of us could learn quite a lot by studying Paul’s prayers.

Paul goes on to express his certainty that “… he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (v. 6) What is that “good work”? Again, I’ll echo a thought from Dr. Wierbe:

God’s work for us is salvation.
God’s work in us is sanctification.
God’s work through us is service.

Has God begun a good work in you by saving you? “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13 Are you allowing God to work in you to grow you into His likeness, or are you resisting change? Finally, are you allowing Him to work through you to serve others in His name? Are you praying for additional opportunities for sacrificial service?

Paul continues in verse 7 to reveal that his unity with the Philippians is not limited to a unity of mind, but also an emotional unity; “It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace …” In addition to sharing the same beliefs, he shared with them also the same grace, and the same Holy Spirit. Does it stir your heart in a special way to be gathered together with believers who share your faith and your gift of grace?

Working as I did for a while as a traveling consultant, I had the opportunity to attend Wednesday worship with churches I would otherwise have never encountered. I had the blessing to experience first-hand the welcome and extraordinary fellowship with Christians I had only just met, because of our shared faith and blessings of grace and salvation.

In verse 9, Paul prays for the continued growth in their love for one another: “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment.” As we mature in our Christian walk, our love should grow, as should our knowledge of God’s Word and our good judgement in applying it to our daily living.

The result of that growth is that we may “approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless”. What does it mean to “approve what is excellent”? The Contemporary English Version translates this as “make the right choices”. That’s probably as good a translation as we’ll ever see. Making the right choices will guide us into a pure and blameless life. Making the right choices is what “sanctification” is all about.

It has been said that one learns to make the right choices by making lots of wrong choices! That’s one way to do it, but it’s the painful way. Another way to do it is to marinate oneself in God’s Word, be constant in prayer, and always seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The result will be the judgement and will to make good choices, and hopefully fewer scars and wounds from learning the hard way.

Finally, Paul prays that the Philippians may be “filled with the fruit of righteousness”. That’s my prayer for you as well!