Introduction to the Book of 1 Thessalonians - The Testimony and Success of a Faithful Congregation

Introduction to the Book of 1 Thessalonians
The Testimony and Success of a Faithful Congregation
The Mission of the Local Church
1 Thessalonians 1:1-20
by Cooper Abrams

Introduction:   1 Thessalonians is Paul's earliest Epistles (letters) written around 51-52 AD. Paul was probably in Corinth a short time after he left Thessalonica.

1. The church at Thessalonica was founded by Paul on his 2nd missionary journey in which the Gospel was taken to Macedonia which was eastern Europe. This was a sea side Roman city, with a good harbor which made it an important trade center. After beginning the new church in Philippi, Paul went to Thessalonica and the New Testament tells us he was only there three weeks or three Jewish Sabbath days.

a. In Acts 17:1-16 Paul and Silas stopped there on his way after leaving Philippi, Berea. It was on the east coast of Macedonia between Berea and Athens. Silas was the Jew from Jerusalem who had been send to Antioch after the Paul and Barabus went there to resolve the issue of Gentile believers eating meat from the local pagan run meat markets and eating meat with blood still in it. He was led of the Lord to be Paul's helper and traveled with him.
b. Paul, as was his practice, went to the Jewish synagogue and there he reasoned with the Jews from the Scriptures the Old Testament scriptures. In other words, Paul preached Jesus the Messiah from the Old Testament.
c. Some of the Jews believed but others, moved by jealousy opposed Paul and the Gospel. These who opposed him were Jews, self-righteous Pharisees. Although the Old Testament clearly showed Jesus to be the Christ the Messiah, they rejected Him the same as the Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem.

-These unbelieving Jews were not satisfied just to reject the Gospel, they also wanted to destroy Paul who preached it. Some of the most dangerous people in the world are religious zealots. The Jews gathered a mob of men of dubious character, called "lewd men of a baser sort" (Acts 17:5), to destroy Paul. These were evil and vulgar men, whom the Jewish leaders had stirred up and bribed.
-They first cause an uproar attacking Paul's preaching and then Paul himself.
- Paul had won some to Christ and the believing Jews helped him. One was named Jason and he invited Paul to stay at his home. The mob heard that Paul was at Jason's home and went there to get him, but Paul was not there. The mob them assaulted Jason and his friends and accused them of "These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also." (V6)
- They were accusing Paul, Jason and those with them of treason. Why? Because they had believed and had befriended Paul and those with him.
-The put Jason under a bond (money) which he would lose if there was any more trouble.

           Have you ever thought about the man Jason and his situation? He heard the same message that Jesus was the Messiah and that if one believed in Him, but faith God would save him, forgive his sins and give him eternal life. He believed the message. But think....these others rejected the message and Jesus Christ. We wonder why? Same message - different response. Jesus Himself explain why when He addressed the Pharisee Nicodemus:
           "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John 3:19-21)

- The real issue was that Paul had preached, Jesus Christ as the Messiah. Acts 17:5 says they were jealous of Paul. False religious leaders always are jealous of those who teach the truth...and further they wish to silence them. These leaders of the synagogue felt threatened in losing their power and prestige in their assembly. They were worldly men, doing religious acts, and more interested in being in the lime light...than receiving God's forgiveness and eternal life.
- You would think that these Jewish men who to so strictly worship God would be happy to hear the Good News the Messiah had come. Yet, their actions showed them to be unsaved religious wolves in sheeps clothing.. Their descendants are still around today....

2. It is very important to understand the situation that existed in Thessalonica to fully explain this Epistle.

a. It was Satan who was causing the opposition to the Gospel. Paul says, in Ephesians 6:12, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
           The fact is that the devil and his demons are more faithful in coming to church that many Christians. They are always around seeking to disrupt a church service, to cause doubts in weak believers, to hinder a Christian from serving the Lord and trying to destroy the effectiveness of the preaching of God's word. He will attack the pastor, and every member of a church. The devil and his demons can destroy a church that is not on its guard or unaware of the devil's devises.
b. The attack was open, but it was deceitful. The devil's devises always are. He is a master of the LIE! Paul was falsely accused of being a traitor to Caesar and causing disorder and trouble. The fact is that Paul never mentioned Caesar and the disorder was not caused by Paul, but those that stirred up the mob. These idol makers were losing business that so the sought to get rid of Paul. It shows the power of the Gospel to change lives when people believe.
c. Paul left the city with Silas at night to avoid the mob and went to Berea.

Acts 17:11 says the Jews at Berea were more noble, (higher character) than the Thessalonians and when Paul preached Jesus the Christ from the Old Testament they examined the Scriptures to see if what Paul was saying was true. They received his message with open hearts and minds. What do you think was the difference between the believing Jews in Berea, unbelieving Jews in Thessalonica!? Many of them both men and women believed. Note the contrast . . . in Thessalonica only a few believed.

d. When the unbelieving Jews in Thessalonica heard Paul was preaching God's word at Berea, they went to that city and stirred up the people there. The brethren then sent Paul away out of the city by way of the sea to Athens, but Silas and Timothy remained. Paul now at Athens sends word for Silas and Timothy to come to him hurriedly. In Athens Paul preached on Mar's Hill to the Greeks and afterwards goes to Corinth where Timothy and Silas join him. In Athens a few believed, but most did not. It does appear that a church was started there.

3. Timothy and Silas brought the news that the Thessalonians was growing strong in the Lord even in the face of great persecution.

a. We cannot be sure, but some may have lost their lives in the persecution or had died since they became Christians. That bothered these new Christians and so they had send word questioning Paul about the dead in Christ. We need to note:
b. It was a young church. These believers were being persecuted for their belief in Jesus Christ. Some had died. The New Testament was not written and they did not know God's program for the churches.

4. There were several classes of people in the church. (Acts 17:4)

- Jews who mostly rejected Paul's message, but a few did believe.
- Greek proselytes who attended the synagogue.
- Woman of high social status from well to do families.
- Some were converts from idolatry. (1 Thess. 1:9)
- Although the Gospel was apposed there, those that believed appear to have faithfully accept God's truth in spite of the persecution and opposition.
- Those saved there had great respect and love for Paul. As their founding pastor he had a great love for them as for his responsibility towards them as the children of the Lord.
- This church was a missions minded church and worked hard to spread the Gospel in their area and even to Achaia.
- There was some confusion about what happens to believers after death and of the resurrection. They do seem to have anticipated the Lord's imminent return.

I. The Salutation of Paul to the Thessalonians. ( 1 Thess. 1:1)

A. The greeting is from Paul and his companions Silas and Timothy.

Silas began his ministry with Paul when Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem to seek advice on how the Gentiles believers in the church at Antioch should behave in regard to the Old Testament laws. Silas was sent by the church in Jerusalem as their representative and he remained with Paul.
Timothy was a young preacher called under Paul's ministry and he too was helping on Paul's second missionary journey.

B. Paul proclaims the congregation at Thessalonica was "in the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
C. God desires that all men receive God's grace by faith, and receive the peace of God.

           Do you understand that the Bible I hold in my hand is God reaching out to you and I, to all men to believe in Him and receive His unmerited favor?
           Do you understand as Romans 5:1-2 says, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:1-2).

II. The Reason for Paul's Love for the Thessalonian Congregation.

A. Paul gave thanks to God for their faith. (v2-3)
ILLUS: People write me daily from many places in the world. Most are thanking me for the articles and material on my web site. I always write back and thank them for being an encouragement to me. It is encouraging to find people who love the Lord and His word in this God forsaking world. It is discouraging when people pervert God's word. It is disheartening when so many who profess to be saved live worldly lives. It is distressing when so many ignore what God has said when it is so plain. It is like the popular phrase I often hear which says, "What part of NO do you not understand?" God tell us He loves us and gives us instructions on living the best life possible, yet people instead do things their way...and always fail. When God says to be faithful..... "What part of being faithful do we not understand?"
B. Clearly, this congregation was a great blessing to Paul and his companions who were spreading the Gospel. They had heard the message and believe it! What an amazing thing that was. God message is powerful and real....yet often we do not see it going forth in power. Many times the Gospel is hindered by our unfaithfulness. I take great stock in what Peter said,
           "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:7-8)

1. Don't we all want the best for ourselves, our families and friends? Don't we want to see the Lord honored in our lives and He be pleased with us?
2. Paul prayed for them regularly. Part of his prayers was thanking the Lord for them and the encouragement they were to him.
3. You know we have the Lord always with us if we are His children and faithful. That is His promise....but it really is uplifting when we see the fruit of faith and the life changing result of salvation in a person's life.

C. He remembered them for their work for the Lord. If the Lord appeared before you and ask you what you did today for Him what would you say?

1. What did our professed faith in Jesus Christ produce in our life today? For you who are here it got you to church. Did you come praying for the lost and for each other? Did your faith in God's word cause you to give a generous thanksgiving offering to the Lord? Was your belief and trust in God the reason you came to church to offer thanksgiving to Him and praise Him for His greatest and benefit to you?. Did your faith cause you to come looking for the Rapture and praying for His soon return?
2. What about this past week? What was your "work of faith" this week?
3. Was your service to the Lord this week a "labor of love?" It gets awful hard sometimes to continue when things are not going too good. The difficulties will surely put a damper on our "spirituality" sometimes. But did you act of love for the Lord manifest itself in helping others? Was coming to church, prayer, helping a friend, witnessing to the lost around us....done as a "labor of love?"

D. Paul said he remembered them for their "patience of hope in Jesus Christ."

1. When the trials of our daily life come did you seek help from the Lord? That is what having hope in the Lord means. Patience is a result of hope. It is the fruit of faith. The child of God who is living by faith will have patience in the Lord's provision for him. He knows he is not forsaken and that God is there helping him. He might not at the moment see it, but he knows God is there and is concerning for him. He know too that by trusting patiently in the Lord the trial well pass. It will be no fun and the difficulty may cause heartache and pain, but his comfort in is the Lord. You see the faithful believer trusts the Lord....always...in every situation.
2. Note the phrase " in the sight of God our Father." The believer's hope is not in vain, but is a sure hope. Why? Because it is trust in One who can deliver what He promises. God the Father is our Creator and He made all things. He person and character are perfect in every way.

ILLUS: I have been disappointed by some men who gave me their word. Once I was offered a future position I really wanted to have. I began making plans and preparing for it. However, when I later inquired I learned the position was not available. The person who offered had taken it themselves. Often I was promised support from churches, that we needed, but it never materialized. Years ago a friend promised to pick me up on Friday afternoon at 6 pm on the corner of Main Street in our town...he never showed up, I still even these many years later feel the hurt. You too can remember promises made that were never kept.
ILLUS: The story is told of Booker T. Washington who described meeting an ex-slave from Virginia in his book Up From Slavery : "I found that this man had made a contract with his master, two or three years previous to the Emancipation Proclamation, to the effect that the slave was to be permitted to buy himself, by paying so much per year for his body; and while he was paying for himself, he was to be permitted to labor where and for whom he pleased.

           "Finding that he could secure better wages in Ohio, he went there. When freedom came, he was still in debt to his master some three hundred dollars. Notwithstanding that the Emancipation Proclamation freed him from any obligation to his master, but this black man walked the greater portion of the distance back to where his old master lived in Virginia, and placed the last dollar, with interest, in his hands.
           Washington later talking about this, said the former slave told him that he knew that he did not have to pay his debt, but that he had given his word to his master, and his word he had never broken. He felt that he could not enjoy his freedom till he had fulfilled his promise."
           How many of us have given our word and not kept it, some even the God Himself.
           It is a rare thing to find a man whose will honor his word no matter what the cost to him. Yet, we must understand that never question God's promises. God honors His every promise to the letter!

III. Paul Thanked God for their Election of God.

A. This is a little technical but please note. The last phrase is one of the things Paul was thanking God for in regard to the Thessalonians.

1. This is not teaching Calvinism which says that God has elected some to salvation and others He withholds His grace and elects them to the Lake of Fire with no chance of salvation.
2. Paul is thanking God for His plan of salvation which He elected and for the clear evidence in their lives of having received Christ. He is not thanking God that he was chosen to be saved over others...but that they were saved because they received the Gospel that Paul preached.
3. Note also the next verse confirms this truth. Paul said the Gospel came not unto you in word only, but in power (God's power) and the Holy Ghost. The Gospel is not just some empty promise or platitude...but the powerful agent of change in the life of those who both hear and believe. Paul confirms that the Holy Spirit and the power of God was working and these people believed and were saved.
4. The power was seen in the effect it had on their lives and this was convincing proof of their salvation.

B. Paul often mentions the character of his life he lived before others.

1. He mentions this in 1 Thess. 2:9-10. "For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe."
2. He mentions it in Acts 20:33-35. "I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."

ILLUS: I received a letter from a mission board this week that said a missionary had been brought back from a foreign field because of immorality in his life. His sinful act showed a lack of character cast a shadow over his marriage, ministry, his salvation and his relationship with others. He is now forever disqualified for the ministry because he cannot be trusted. If he failed once as a Christian, he could fail again. He gave his word to serve the Lord and reach the people of the country where he was serving...but he went back on his word. Personal desires were more important to him. He said he had a burden for the people of that country, but obvious he did not.

3. The validity of the Gospel stands alone and cannot be truly defiled... God's word is always true. But the one who takes the message can defile his or her credibility in taking the message. Paul is saying that part of the motivation for his life of good character and dedication was his caring for their well being. He lived a godly life to please God...yes, but also for their sakes to set a proper example.
4. The saw the witness and power of the Gospel in Paul's life in spite of the many afflictions which he endured with joy of the Holy Ghost. Joy of the Holy Spirit is joy that does not come from having material comfort or benefit, but to the contrary is present whether things are going good or not when there is heartache and pain.

D. Paul sums this up saying.... "So" meaning as the result of all this.... the Thessalonians were examples to all who believed in Macedonia and Achaia.

1. They sounded out the word of the Lord. To "sound out" means they proclaimed the word of God boldly and with force of conviction. They put great effort in their witnessing for Christ.
2. The result was that their testimony went far beyond the geographical bounds of their country but was also spread aboard. Many in the known world heard of their faith and faithfulness and that influenced many others.
3. Folks ours is a little church in the boondocks of the West. But we do not live in a vacuum. When you are faithful to the Lord others hear of it, both in our community, geographical area and many other places far from here. We all must get a true vision of what our faith in the Lord can accomplish.
4. The success of the Gospel in Thessalonica helped Paul in his ministry to others. He could show others what God had done for them and how God could do the same for them as well. (V9)
5. The fact they believed and turned from idols showed the power of the Gospel to change lives and bring victory over sin and death.

E. They too were an encouragement to others everywhere of the certainty of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead.

1. It was Jesus and Jesus alone who delivers the believer from the wrath of God which will come upon the whole world.
2. Because His return is sure....the one who puts his faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior , his position and promise of heaven was also sure.

Conclusion:

1. In light of the example of the Thessalonians where do you and I stand?
Surely, their example has continued over the ages and is valid even to this very hour.
2. Their example of faithfulness should inspire and motivation us to believe as they did and faithfully serve the Lord.
3. No church can have a testimony such as this without its people believing God's word and being committed to God's will for their lives. If each person in our church accepted God's will for their lives and lived it....the result would be that God's will for our congregation would also be fulfilled.
4. Honestly, though we have seen God's hand working here many times in many ways....the reality is we are a church of little power. The Gospel we profess we believe is totally and awesomely powerful...but the problem is not in the Gospel, but in the messengers.
5. The question is this: Do you honestly before God believe you are truly serving Him as He wishes. Are you really living in His will. If the answer is no...then what should you do to become the man or woman God wants you to be? I cannot address every problem Christians have and what keeps them from fully serving the Lord....but God the Holy Spirit can and even at this very moment is doing just that! You and I know don't we. Then if we know well we believe God and obey Him and be His example and testimony....or go on defeated.

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