First Thessalonians 1 Part. 2 Apostolic Greetings And The Faithful Church At Thessalonica

I reviewed how the gospel reached Thessalonica to help us have a frame of reference for the two letters Paul wrote to this church. 

We will quickly see how much the apostle Paul loved the saints of Thessalonica. They adhered to Paul's doctrine and readily served and loved God while living out the gospel truth.

Greetings from Paul to a church that he loved deeply. 

1 Thessalonians 1:1  Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Paul wrote this letter to the newly established church at Thessalonica. He deviates from his normal form of greeting in a couple of ways.

First he called them the church of the Thessalonians rather than the "church of God" (See Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 10:32; 11:22; 15:9; Corinthians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:5; 3:15).

Second, he declares that this fellowship of Christians is "in God the Father"  and "in the Lord Jesus Christ." 

Nowhere else does Paul use those exact phrases when speaking of a specific church. 

The church of the Thessalonians was composed of converted Jews and Gentiles. 

These new Christians enjoyed blessed fellowship with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ (See 1 John 1:3). 

They were a Christian church because they believed in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul dictated this letter and added the names of Silas and Timothy since they ministered with him at Thessalonica  (See Acts 17:4;14). 

Paul trained these men to assume oversight responsibilities because Paul and the other apostles would eventually be martyred. 

Paul always prayed for the Thessalonian church. 

1 Thessalonians 1:2  We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 

Paul immediately communicates his love for this church by telling them that he prayed frequently for their needs. 

He was thankful for their faithfulness to the gospel of Christ and how they supported the apostle.

The Thessalonians had an active faith and joyfully served God and others.

1 Thessalonians 1:3-4  Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; 4)  Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 

The apostle specifically noted their work of faith as the Thessalonians lived in accord with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

They heard and heeded the gospel and sought to live by the apostolic doctrine delivered by Paul. 

They had works of faith which means they were growing spiritually. 

They were learning about worshiping God in spirit and in truth and being His witnesses. 

They daily placed all their trust in the saving work of Jesus Christ. 

Living faith in Christ contrasted with  false profession of faith.

James 2:14-18  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15)  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16)  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17)  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18)  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

These church members had an active faith, a working faith because faith without works is dead faith. 

James illustrates the difference between living faith and dead faith. 

Those with living faith respond with acts of kindness to other Christians when they see someone in need of food, clothing or shelter. 

Living faith acts in obedience to God's Word. 

In contrast, those who have a dead faith do not act in accord with God's Word. They turn away when they see another Christian with needs. 

They have made an empty profession of faith in Christ. They have dead faith because they do not obey the scriptures. 

Jesus contrasts good fruitful trees with bad fruitless trees. 

Matthew 7:16-20  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17)  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18)  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19)  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20)  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 

They were fruit producing Christians as our Lord commands us to be. Jesus tells us that the truth of our faith will be manifest in the works that we do. 

We will readily see the difference between those who love and serve God and those who love and serve self. 

A "good tree" represents those who hear the gospel and after receiving it into their heart, they bring forth much fruit for Jesus. 

The "corrupt tree" are those who claim to know Christ but have zero evidence of a regenerated heart or of walking in newness of life. 

God saved us in order for us to do good works He ordained.

Ephesians 2:8-10  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

A good tree brings forth fruit for God and His kingdom. This connects with Paul's teaching that we are saved to do good works that God planned for us to complete.

A Christian is most happy when he or she has learned how to use the gifts God has imparted for His glory. 

Two contrasting offerings but only one is acceptable to God. 

Genesis 4:4-5  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5)  But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 

A good tree will bring forth good fruit that honors God. Abel sacrificed an innocent animal and applied its blood as God commanded. 

Therefore Abel's offering was accepted by God. An innocent animal must take the place of the sinner, and die for his or her sins. 

Its blood must be shed, its life forfeited, because the sacrifice foreshadows the work of Christ our Passover Lamb. God accepts this sacrifice without delay. 

However, a corrupt tree represents those who make a false profession of faith in Christ. 

They claim to be Christian but they live for self or the world. Thus, their fruit is rejected by God (See Genesis 4:1-11).

Cain attempted to approach God with fruit from the ground that God had cursed. 

God would not accept his offering, and it is a picture of those who try to work their way to a right standing with God.

Faithful servants are commended but the unfaithful are condemned. 

Matthew 25:14 -30 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15)  And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16)  Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17)  And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18)  But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19)  After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20)  And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21)  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22)  He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23)  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24)  Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25)  And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26)  His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27)  Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28)  Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29)  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30)  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

The faithful and obedient servants of Jesus Christ did not hide their talents (gifts) but readily used them to advance His Kingdom. 

This pictures worshiping God aright, walking with integrity in the world, being a faithful witness and growing in our faith through prayer and Bible study. 

1 Thessalonians 1:2-4  We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3)  Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; 4)  Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 

Thus, Paul is greatly blessed by faithfulness of the Thessalonians. They did the works of faith that God set before them to accomplish.

They labored by loving God first and then by loving others.

They maintained a patient hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, His doctrine and His second coming. 

Their good testimony was in the sight of God and was proof that He had called them out of darkness into His marvelous light.

May we seek to live out our lives by being faithful in all that God has called us to do.

Let us remember that this world is not our home. Heaven is!

Let us make loving and serving God and others our highest priority in life.

Bob