WORD
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,
But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed . . . ROM 6:17
3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,
5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.
9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1TH 1:1-10
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy wrote a letter to encourage the young church in Thessalonica. This church-planting team had preached the gospel and planted a thriving church there, but were then persecuted for the gospel and had to leave the new believers. As expected, they were troubled and anxious to know how the church was doing, so they sent Timothy to check. They were finally at peace when they heard Timothy’s good report of their faith and passion for God. One of the concerns this letter addresses is how believers should live in light of Christ’s second coming, the full establishment of his kingdom, and the coming judgment and rewards for believers. Paul and his fellow church planters wanted to guide and teach the new believers, especially because they couldn’t be together. For the next few weeks, we can learn from Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, as well as the Thessalonian church. In this lesson, we will look at how the gospel transforms our lives.
. . . and many peoples shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. ISA 2:3
TRUST WORTHY God’s Salvation: God desires for us to journey with him
Walking in the light of the Lord means journeying with him toward the house of God on the mountain of the Lord, the highest of the mountains. Isaiah’s prophecy shows how people of all nations will flow to his house with joy and eagerness, calling others to join them. Today, the house of God refers to his people, the Church. Because God had ordained that this would happen, it is his desire that we, along with believers from every nation, journey toward his house. What got you started on your journey with the Lord?
TRUST WORTHY God’s Salvation: God desires for us to learn his ways
The rest of the passage shows what will take place in the house of God: that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. God desires for his people to learn his ways. When we put our faith in him, we will learn his ways, and if we walk in his paths by obeying him and listening for his correction, we will become more and more like him. As a result of knowing God more and more, what are some things in your life that have changed?
The gospel transforms our life direction
4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,
5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit . . . 1TH 1:4-6
The believers in Thessalonica had heard and responded to the gospel in faith. As a result, they not only became imitators of those who preached to them, but also of the Lord. After encountering the Holy Spirit and having their hearts opened to the gospel, they were no longer the same. And even if that meant persecution and suffering for the gospel, they were set on following Christ. How did the gospel change the direction of your life?
. . . 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. ISA 55:11
Rashi
So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth to inform you through the prophets, will not return empty, but will do good to you if you heed them.
Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
and bring her into the wilderness,
and speak tenderly to her. HOS 2:16
Berakhot 7a:22
And Rabbi Yohanan said in the name of Rabbi Yosei: A single regret or pang of guilt in one’s heart is preferable to many lashes administered by others that cause only physical pain, as it is stated: “She chases her lovers but does not overtake them; she seeks them but will not find them; and she shall say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, for it was better for me then than now’ ” (Hos 2:9). Remorse is more effective than any externally imposed punishment listed in the verses that follow (Hos 2:11-19). And Reish Lakish said that in the Bible, it seems that such remorse is preferable to one hundred lashes, as it is stated: “A rebuke enters deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool” (Pro 17:10).
Rashi
Therefore, behold, I will allure her—I will persuade her to be drawn after me (losanjier in O.F., to flatter or cajole). Other editions read: atrayray in O.F. (attirerai). I will lure, attract. And what is the allurement?
And bring her into the wilderness—In exile, which is to her like a wilderness and a wasteland. And there she will lay up to her heart that it was better for her when she performed my will than when she rebelled against me.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved . . . EPH 2:4-5
The gospel transforms our affections
For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God . . . 1TH 1:9
From serving idols to serving God, the believers in Thessalonica no longer had the same affections. Their hearts, minds, and souls were no longer set on idolatry and false worship. While we may not be involved in idol worship physically, our hearts can be captivated by pursuing our own interests and seeking after what the world has to offer. How do you think we would know if the gospel has transformed our affections? According to 1Th 1:3, what did Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy remember about the Thessalonians?
. . . remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1TH 1:3
For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. ECC 2:26
Rashi
For to the one who pleases him—Before God, mentioned above, “is from the hand of God.”
God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy—A heart to engage in the law and in the commandments and to rejoice in his portion of eating, drinking, and clean clothing.
But to the sinner he has given the business—A habit and concern of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God, as the matter is stated (Est 8:2): “and Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.”
This also—Is one of the vanities that were given to the creatures, that they labor, and someone else takes.
O Lord, my strength and my stronghold,
my refuge in the day of trouble,
to you shall the nations come
from the ends of the earth and say:
“Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies,
worthless things in which there is no profit.” JER 16:19
Rashi
My refuge—(Mon vantement in French), my boast. And Menachem (Mahberet p. 123) classified it as an expression of a wonder (cf. Psa 60:6) “You have set up a wonder to be wondrous (נֵס לְהִתְנוֹסֵס) for those who fear you.”
To you shall the nations come—Eventually, the heathens shall come to you and worship you of one accord, and they will say, “How did they make gods for themselves, and they are no gods?”
From the ends of—Like מִקְצֵה, from the end of.
Inherited—An expression of an inheritance.
Profit—An expression of use (תּוֹעֶלֶת).
27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”
29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” JOH 6:27-29
The gospel transforms our disposition
. . . and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1TH 1:10
A follower of Christ does not just hope in God for this life. In reality, the fulfillment of our hope will be at Christ’s glorious return. Believers wait for this with much expectation, trusting that one day true joy will be experienced, rewards will be given to those who faithfully serve God, ultimate justice will be served, and his kingdom will be restored. How does the certainty of Christ’s coming affect how we live today?
3 But you, draw near,
sons of the sorceress,
offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.
Rashi
But you, draw near—The survivors after the righteous have departed, and receive your sentences.
Sons of the sorceress—Heb. בְּנֵי עֹנְנָה, sons of the sorceress.
Offspring of the adulterer—That the male commits adultery.
And the loose woman—The female.
4 Whom are you mocking?
Against whom do you open your mouth wide
and stick out your tongue?
Are you not children of transgression,
the offspring of deceit . . . ISA 57:3-4
Rashi
Whom are you mocking—Since you have turned away from following me, on whom will you rely to enjoy yourselves with good. Had you merited, you would then enjoy yourselves with the Lord, but now, whom are you mocking?
Against whom do you open your mouth wide—When you scorned and mocked his prophets.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” MAT 3:7