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4000 E.
Collins Rd. “Preaching
the Living Word through the Written Word (2Tim 4:2)” |
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THE SALUTATION AND PRAYERS FOR THE THESSALONIANS 1Th 1:1-4 (2/27/11) Grace Bible
Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl
Hilbert THE OUTLINE
OF FIRST THESSALONIANS I. Paul’s Address
(1:1) II. Personal
Admirations (1:2-3:13) A. Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians (1:2-10) B. Reminders of the Thessalonians’ Salvation
(2:11-16) C. Concern for the Thessalonians’ Welfare
(2:17-3:13) III.
Pertinent Admonitions (4:1-5:27) A. Christian living (4:1-12) B. The Rapture (4:13-18) C. The Day of the Lord (5:1-11) D. Church life (5:12-15) E. Holy living (5:16-24) F. Personal Appeals (5:25-27) IV. Paul’s
Benediction (5:28) I.
SALUTATION TO THE THESSALONIAN BELIEVERS IN GOD (1) A. The
Missionaries 1. The apostle
Paul, the author of this epistle (1Th 1:1; 2:18; 3:5; 5:27), was the leader
of his second missionary journey (Acts 15:36). 2. It is
commonly accepted that the “Silas” of Acts (Acts 15:22,27,32,34,40;
16:19,25,29; 17:4,10,14-15; 18:5) is the “Silvanus” of the epistles (2 Co
1:19; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1; 1Pe 5:12). a) Silas, one of
the leading men of the church and was chosen by the apostles, elders, and
brethren of the church to be sent out to do mission work (Acts 15:22). b) Silas was a
prophet and encouraged the brethren through preaching (Acts 15:32). c) Silas was
chosen to go with Paul on his 2nd missionary journey rather than
John Mark (Acts 15:37-41). d) Silas, unlike
John Mark, endured persecution along with Paul (Acts 16:19). e) Silas was
with Paul when he wrote to the Thessalonians from Corinth (Acts 18:5). f)
Silas was Peter’s amanuensis in the writing of 1 Peter
(1Pe 5:12). 3. Timothy and
Paul met on this very missionary journey when in Lystra (Acts 16:1-2). Paul,
after having him circumcised so that he could minister to the Jews, took
Timothy with him (Acts 16:3). Paul left Timothy and Silas in Macedonia while
he went on to Athens and Corinth. Eventually Timothy and Silas met up with Paul
in Corinth (Acts 18:1, 5). B. The Recipients 1. Paul wrote to
the “church of the Thessalonians.” A church was started in Thessalonica after
Paul had shared the gospel in the three weeks that he was there (Acts
17:1-4). Timothy and Silas were in part responsible for establishing the
churches in those areas where the gospel was preached (Acts 17:14). By the
time Paul wrote the letter, they were an established church. 2. However, they
were not merely a religious organization, but the spiritual reality was that
they were “in God the Father.” To be in God the Father means that they have
been brought into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ (Joh 14:6).
They were also brought into a relationship with “Jesus Christ” which puts Him
on the same level as the Father and therefore means that He is deity. C. The
Salutation 1. Paul’s
customary salutation is, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 1:7; 1Co 1:3; 2Co 1:2; Gal 1:3; Eph 1:2; Phi 1:2; Phm
1:3; ). Though slightly different in this epistle, Paul’s salutation includes
the two customary themes: grace and peace. 2. “Grace” (charis) is
God’s unmerited favor given to those who believe on Christ and His atonement
on the cross. 3. “Peace” (eirênê) is God’s
reconciliation through Christ to the believer who was at enmity with God (Rom
5:1). Reconciliation now also gives him personal peace with God (Phi 4:6-7). II. CONSTANT
PRAYERS FOR THE THESSALONIAN BELIEVERS (2-3) A. Paul gives
thanks to God for the Thessalonians, but this giving of thanks is part of
Paul’s continuous intercession, not only for the Thessalonians, but for all churches
(Rom 1:9-10; 1Co 1:4; Col 1:3, 9-11; Eph 1:15-23, cp. Eph 6:18; Phi 1:4,
9-11; 1Th 1:2-3; 2Th 1:11; 2Ti 1:3). Literally, vs. 2 would be translated, “We are continually giving thanks …always
for all of you.” Paul was a constant intercessor (entugchanō - in touch with God on someone’s behalf -
Rom 8:27, 34, 11:2; Heb 7:25). B. In addition
to being an intercessor, Paul, along with his companions were “prayer
warriors.” In other words they fought their spiritual battles through prayer.
Obviously they had scheduled times of prayer and they “prayed without
ceasing” (1Th 5:17). C. While they
prayed, they continually recalled the things that God was working in the
Thessalonian believers. These three qualities make this the key verse of the
epistle, summarizing the three main themes. They are: 1. “work of
faith” a) This would be
the evidence of salvation produced by faith in the Thessalonians. Works of
evidence are produced in the believer after he has trusted in Christ. b) Some of their
evidences of faith were: reception of the gospel (1Th 1:5, 9); Christlike Living
(1Th 1:6-7); obedience of the Word (1Th 1:6; 2:13); suffering and tribulation
(1Th 1:6; 2:14; 3:4); witnessing (1Th 1:8); awareness of sin (1Th 1:9); service
for the Lord (1Th 1:9); and love for one another (1Th 4:9-10). 2. “labor of
love” a) Labor of love
would be the toilsome service for the Lord motivated by the Thessalonians
love for the Lord. b) “Labor” (kopos) here
means more than mere work, rather it means exhausting physical or mental
exertion and toil. It often includes wearisome burdens, difficulties, or
afflictions. c) The
implication is that service for the Lord is usually anything but easy. In
fact, it is often filled with burdens, difficulties, physical and mental
afflictions. If we love the Lord, and desire to serve Him, then we must be
willing to not only work for Him but toil in labor and hardships as well. 3. “steadfastness of hope” a) The
Thessalonians persevered through trials and persecutions because of their
hope in Christ and His return. b) Paul speaks
of the Lord’s return some six times in this epistle (1Th 1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:2, 23) and concludes
each chapter with the topic. They were expectantly looking and waiting for
the “Blessed Hope” (Tit 2:13). c) Paul
personalizes their hope with the relational pronoun “our” Lord Jesus and
“our” God and Father. III. DIVINE CHOICE
OF GOD FOR THE THESSALONIAN BELIEVERS (4) A. Paul’s reason
for giving thanks was the fruit of salvation that the Thessalonians
exhibited. It was because of this evidence that he also “knew” (oida - perception or realization) that the
Thessalonians were part of the elect. Because of God’s election, the
Thessalonians came to Christ and exhibited fruit of salvation. B. This election
was by God’s “choice,” which is the Greek word eklogê and is an action of “choosing
out” or “selection” and never implies an initial choice of the recipient (cp.
Acts 1:2 cp. Joh 15:16; Acts 1:24; 9:15; Rom 11:7; 1Th 1:4; cp. Rom 9:16). 1. It was an
election that was before the foundation of the world (Rom 9:11-12; Eph 1:4). 2. It was an
election that was given by God’s grace (Rom 11:5). 3. It was an
election that was according to God’s purpose (Rom 9:11; 1Co 1:27). 4. It was an
election that will not be thwarted (Rom 9:11). 5. It was an
election that guarantees the believer’s perseverance (2Pe 1:10). |
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