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Preaching the Living WORD through the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4:2 - |
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THE THESSALONIAN CHURCH IN CHRIST 2Th 1:1 (11/06/11) Grace Bible
Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl
Hilbert I.
THE THESSALONIAN’S MINISTERS A.
The greetings that Paul gave in his second letter to the
Thessalonians is almost identical to the one he used in his first letter. The
difference is that in the second letter, Paul adds to “grace to you and peace,” the phrase… “from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Though the addition is slight and the greeting is
similar, it is not without great theological content. It is for this reason
that Paul uses this greeting in all his epistles (Rom 1:7; 1Co
1:3; 2Co 1:2; Gal 1:3; Eph 1:2; Phi 1:2; Phm 1:3; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1-2). B.
The letter was
from the faithful servants of God who ministered to the Thessalonians 1.
Paul was always
spiritually concerned for those he ministered to, especially when he played a
part in their conversion like the Thessalonians (Act 17:1-4). a)
He “went to
them” (Act 17:2a). b)
He “reasoned (diale,gomai - a reasoned discussion, Eng. dialogue) from the Scriptures” (Act 17:2b). c)
He “explained
and gave evidence” to the death and resurrection of Christ (Act 17:3a). d)
He declared that
“Jesus was the Messiah” (Act 17:3b). e)
Some “were
persuaded” (i.e. believed, pisteu,ō -
believe from peithō - to persuade, i.e. persuade with the Scriptures) (Act 17:4). 2.
Silvanus (also known as Silas) was a faithful servant of
God in the ministry with Paul. a)
He was approved by the church and the apostles for
ministry (Act 15:22). b) He faithfully
encouraged the brethren (Acts 15:32). c) He, unlike
John Mark, endured persecution along with Paul (Acts 16:19). d)
He was faithful in preaching the Gospel (2Co 1:19). e)
He faithfully served alongside of Paul (1Th 1:1; 2:1). f)
He was a “faithful brother” and amanuensis for Peter (1Pe
5:12). 3.
Timothy was Paul’s spiritual son in the Lord, who was
asked to join Paul in the ministry (1Ti 1:2). a)
He became a devoted disciple under Paul’s tutelage (Act
16:1-2). b)
He was willing to be circumcised so that he could minister
to the Jews (Act 16:3). c)
Timothy was left at Ephesus to correct false teaching (1Ti
1:3; 1Ti 4:6). d)
Timothy did the work of an evangelist (2Ti 4:5) II.
THE THESSALONIAN’S CHURCH A.
Paul was not writing to particular individuals, but to the
church of the local group of believers at Thessalonica. The word “church” is
the Greek word ekklêsia
and literally means the “called” (kale,o) “out” (ek) ones or the ones called together
or assembled. It was a secular word (Act 19:39-41 cp. Act 7:38) before it was
coined by the NT writers, so it does not emphasize a metaphorical meaning as
called “out” of the world. 1.
It would lean toward a literal meaning of being called
“out” of one’s home in order to gather together (Though, in its beginning,
the early church met in homes, Rom 16:5; 1Co 16:19; Phm 1:2). 2.
Thus for much of the time it would refer to the local
church (Act 8:1; 11:22, 26; 14:23, 27; 15:22, 41; 18:22; Rom 16:1; 1Co 1:2;
2Co 1:1; Col 4:16) where like-minded believers assemble to worship, study the
Word, pray, become edified, become equipped, and prepare to do the “work of
service” (diakonia - service, fr.
diakonos - servant or minister). B.
However, ekklêsi,a is also used to
refer to the universal church, which refers to all true believers in the
Church Age, from Pentecost to the Rapture (Eph 1 22-23; Heb 12:23; 1Ti 3:15).
In this usage, the metaphorical meaning of ekklêsia comes into play where the church is “called out” of the
world and placed into the body of Christ. C.
The Thessalonians were part of the local church and the
universal church because Paul does not refer to a particular building at
Thessalonica, but the living organism of believers gathered at Thessalonica. III.
THE THESSALONIAN’S POSITION IN CHRIST A.
Thessalonians were not just people who gathered together
in a particular place; rather they obtained a spiritual position that was “in
God and Christ.” B.
The believer’s spiritual position is: 1.
Wrought in the believer at the moment of faith. 2.
Solely the work of God, without any dependence on the
believer himself. 3.
Given as a complete work of salvation, not in stages. 4.
Begun presently in the believer’s life. 5.
Given as an eternal work, never to be change or reversed. C.
The preposition “in” (Grk.
en; i.e. “in” the center of a circle or sphere) described the sphere to
which the Thessalonian believers were placed. It is described by the phrase
“in Christ.” 1.
It is the spiritual position that all those who trust in
Christ reside (2Co 5:17). 2.
It is the spiritual position in which the Holy Spirit
places the believer (1Co 12:13). 3.
It is the spiritual position that has replaced the old
position which is described as spiritual death (Eph 2:1), under the domain of
Satan (Eph 2:2), inability to live righteously (Eph 2:3a), and inheritors of
the wrath of God (Eph 2:3b). 4.
It is the spiritual position that will no longer receive
condemnation for sin (Rom 8:1). D.
The book of Ephesians is the epistle that views the
believer’s spiritual position in Christ. 1.
The believer’s spiritual position contains all spiritual
blessings (Eph 1:3) 2.
The believer’s spiritual position began before the
foundation of the world (Eph 1:4). 3.
The believer’s spiritual position includes forgiveness of
sins (Eph 1:7). 4.
The believer’s spiritual position continues God’s work in
the believer in this life (Eph 2:10). 5.
The believer’s spiritual position is sealed in Christ by
the Spirit (Eph 1:13). 6.
The believer’s spiritual position is eternally settled in
heaven (Eph 2:6; Rom 8:39). 7.
The believer’s spiritual position will reveal more riches
in eternity (Eph 2:7). 8.
The believer’s spiritual position in Christ in the church
will glorify God (Eph 3:21). IV.
OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A.
As believers, we are servants of God like Paul and his
evangelism, Silvanus and his encouragement to believers, and Timothy and his
discipleship and teaching. 1.
We must go, reason from the Scriptures, explain and give
evidence that Jesus is the Christ. 2.
We must be faithful in our service to the Lord and
encourage other believers. 3.
We must always be on guard against false teaching. B.
As believers, we belong to the local church (ekklêsia), which is
part of the universal church. Therefore, we are “called out” from the world
to serve the church of the living God just like the Thessalonian church. 1.
Not every church is a church in God. Only a church that is
made up of those who have trusted in Christ alone by faith alone. 2.
We are a bona-fide church of the living God because it is
Jesus’ church which He promised to build (Mat 16:18). It is a privilege to
serve in Christ’s church as a servant of God. 3. The English word “church” comes from the Old English word “cirice” or “chirche”. Even this word comes from a Greek word kyriakos and means “belonging to the Lord (kurios)”. C.
As believers, we have a spiritual position in Christ like
the believers in Thessalonica. 1.
We are in Christ and have every spiritual blessing in
Christ (Eph 1:3). 2.
We are accepted in the Beloved (Eph 1:6 cp. Eph 2:13). It
means that we have the favor of God through Christ. It means that He has
bestowed upon us His favor and grace. If you are a believer, God is not out
to get you, you are already in as his beloved child (Joh 17:23). |
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