1 Thessalonians 2:9-12

[9] For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. [10] You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. [11] For you know how, like a father with his children, [12] we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. (ESV)

 1 Thessalonians 2:9 -12 ESV

In the previous passage, we saw that Paul and his traveling companions had come to the Thessalonians sincerely. He explained their motives. Paul said they were gentle, like a mother with her newborn. In this passage he continues to remind his readers in what manner they approached them. They "worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you..." (v.9) Did they really work "night and day?" Looking at the accounts of Paul's ministry in Acts 18-19, it appears so. They preached the gospel to many willing listeners, but also had to contend with opposition from some of the Jews in the area. There were many factors contributing to their ministry in Thessalonica. They did not want to "be a burden" to them. He already said that because they were apostles of Christ, they could have made some "demands" of them (v.6). But they did not. What did they do then? How were their needs met? It could have been through their work as tent makers. In Acts 18:3 we learn that Paul did this kind of work with Priscilla and Aquilla. Perhaps Paul had joined some tentmakers in Thessalonica and was able to earn some wages. Also, it seems he took whatever opportunities to preach and teach the gospel that came up. Whatever Paul may be referring to here, he is reminding his readers of something they saw themselves- they saw that Paul and his companions labored hard and were not a burden to them.

They worked hard while they "proclaimed the gospel of God" to them. (v.9) What is the gospel? I have written on this here, https://sprlpsrn.blogspot.com/2011/11/gospel.html,  back in November 2011. But let's review here. The word "gospel" comes from a Greek word that means "good news." The message contained in the good news at it's most basic form is as follows. Jesus was born. He was really a human being, but was also God. He lived a perfect life, that is, He never sinned. He was crucified and died a real death on a cross. He was buried in a real tomb that was sealed by a stone. On the third day, He literally, physically rose from the dead. Hundreds of people saw Him after He had risen. Those who follow Him proclaim these truths. All who believe are saved. Paul and his companions labored and toiled to bring this message to as many people as they could. 

He calls it the gospel "of God." He has called it "my gospel," as well in other places (Rom 2:16, Rom 16:25, 2 Tim 2:8). It is very personal to him. But he uses the term "gospel of God" a few other times as well. (Rom 1:1, Rom 15:16, and in this chapter of 1 Thess a few times). It is also called this in Mark 1:14 and 1 Pet 4:17. Why is it God's gospel (good news)? Because it is the message of God's work to save men. It is God's work through the 2nd person of the Trinity, Jesus. It is God's power on display. It is God who draws people to this message. It is God who receives the glory in this message and in His saving of sinners who believe. Thus it is the "gospel of God." 

Paul again reminds the Thessalonians of his conduct toward them (v.10-12) Paul and his fellow travelers were "holy and righteous and blameless" toward the believers there. They treated them like a father does his children. They "exhorted" and "encouraged" them to live lives "in a manner worthy of God." When I read this, I see them encouraging the believers to be like Paul and his friends. They had been holy and blameless and were not burdens to them. They are persuading the Thessalonians to do the same. He also reminds them that God "calls you into his own kingdom and glory." (v.12) The message preached is from God. God uses the message and Paul's ministry to call people to Himself. 

In the next section we will see Paul continue to encourage them. For now, remember...God is sovereign!

How Does the Gospel Impact My Daily Life?

I was recently challenged by a conversation I had with a good friend. He was reflecting on how the gospel affects us in the daily details of life. I'm used to thinking that "the gospel" is a message we share with others. It's the message I believed and as a result, I am "saved." Back in November of 2011, I posted a short entry trying to define the gospel. Simply put, the content of the gospel message is: Jesus Christ became a man, lived a perfect life, died, was buried, and three days later he rose from the dead.  okay... but SO WHAT?

I've believed the gospel message. I know Jesus Christ. He is my Lord and my God. I have been rescued from God's wrath through Him(1 Thess 1:10.) There is now no condemnation for me because I am IN Christ(Rom 8:1.) But is that all the gospel does- is it only fire insurance? Do I only have to believe once and I'm "in?" The Bible tells us that we must live holy lives as well as have faith. We are to strive for peace with others and to live holy lives (Heb 12:14.) We were saved by grace and God gave us the gift of faith (Eph 2:8-9), but this was in order for us to walk in the good works that God has prepared for us (Eph 2:10.)

So, I ask the question, "How does the gospel impact my daily life?" How does it impact YOUR daily life? When things aren't going well at work, does the gospel help you? When a dear loved one has received a dreaded diagnosis, can the gospel affect how you deal with it? When your "enemy" does all he can to harm you, how do you respond? Friends, in any of these circumstances, I want the gospel to be REAL and to have an impact on how I respond. For example, I work with the public. Often times people can be rude, insensitive, demanding, and I must be gracious and polite and winning in my response to them. This is beyond difficult sometimes. Can the gospel help me at work? Absolutely! I need to remember that Christ died for sinners-> I am a sinner-> the person I'm dealing with is a sinner....I need to remember that Christ was unjustly treated; He had never done wrong or sinned against ANYONE -> I, on the other hand, sin with every breath and deserve unjust treatment in general; and yet I am SOO OFFENDED when someone is unkind to me. And to top it off, at work, I am not preaching the gospel to people and and I am being mistreated (at times)- I'm not saying I SHOULD be mistreated, I'm just saying that when I am mistreated, it's not directly for the cause of Christ. The Bible tells me to "endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as children." Heb 12:7NIV. So God loves me and through hardship He is teaching me discipline. Understanding the gospel helps me endure because the gospel is TRUE. Jesus really lived a perfect life. He really died. He really rose from the dead. He really is with me until the end of the age- even when a customer is angry and in my face. He really inspired the Scriptures that give me so much rich instruction. And the "sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Rom 8:18 ESV. <-That is really TRUE. It's all true because the gospel is true.

I hope that you can start to see how the gospel can impact even the minutest detail of you life. I'm trying to see how this is so and it is truly helping me to respond to situations in a more godly manner. I know I won't be perfect until Glory, but by God's grace you and I can continue this journey- we can continue to progress in our sanctification.  Remember, God is all sovereign...

The Gospel

I haven't posted in quite some time. My mind is still on God's sovereignty, though. In particular, I've been focused on the Gospel.

What is the Gospel? The word is used many ways. I am thinking about Paul's use of the word in the New Testament.
"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it s the power of God for the salvation for everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed , a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'." -Romans 1:16-17 NIV

Paul tells us that the gospel is "the power of God for salvation." This tells me that the gospel is a message, but it is more! It is POWER! What does that mean? The gospel message is:
"that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures..." 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NIV

So what about this message saves or has power to save? Think this through. Does the fact that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again automatically save a person? No. As Paul stated above, "it is the power of God for the salvation for everyone who believes."   So what happens when a person believes? Here's what doesn't happen: a person does not make himself or herself righteous. The righteousness is FROM GOD. When a person believes the gospel, God does not count his sins against him. What happens to a person's sin? "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV  God performs an exchange. The Great Exchange! When YOU believe the gospel message, God treats YOU like you had never sinned, but had lived a perfectly righteous life! How can He do this? By His own righteousness. In this Great Exchange God treats the Lord Jesus Christ as if He had lived MY sinful life and punishes Jesus Christ for MY SIN!!! It's absolutely incredible! Jesus got MY punishment, but I get HIS reward! If God had NOT performed this on my behalf, I would be damned.

This is why this message is such great news! Romans 1:18 tells us that "the wrath of God is being revealed..."  This should TERRIFY anyone who is not included in the Great Exchange I mentioned above! The gospel is the power of God to save everyone who believes from the WRATH OF GOD! "God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day." Psalm 7:11 NIV Oh thank God that He sent His son Jesus! The work of Jesus Christ (His perfect life, His death, His resurrection) on behalf of all who BELIEVE is truly Good News (which is what the actual word "gospel" means.) In 1 Thessalonians 1:10 we are told of the Thessalonians that they turned from their idols and learned to serve God "and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath." [By the way, I need to get back to my study in 1 Thessalonians!] Jesus saves us from God's coming wrath.

Friends, do everything you can to understand the GOSPEL! Let the gospel saturate everything about you: your thoughts, your work, your relationships, your every breath! "For it is the power of God for salvation..."  Remember, God is all sovereign....