In Christ And All Of Christ - 1thessalonians 1:1-10 Series

IN CHRIST AND ALL OF CHRIST - 1Thessalonians 1:1-10

We are going to embark on a series of messages in this magnificent book of 1Thessalonians. While it is not universally accepted, the great majority of commentators and writers consider this letter as being Paul’s first letter. It has the freshness of a letter written soon after the initial encounter with the saints at Thessalonica. In any endeavour or work to be done or anything that needs addressing, it is always necessary to go back to the beginning and examine that. This we shall so with Thessalonica:-

{{Acts 17:1-11 “Now when they had travelled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica where there was a synagogue of the Jews, and according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a great multitude of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women, but the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar, and coming upon the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities shouting, “These men who have upset the world have come here also, and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things, and when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, they released them. The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.”}}

Paul would go to the synagogues first when he came to a new destination, and minister to the Jews there, but often the Jews who were a rebellious lot, created trouble and even riots so Paul would then take the gospel to the Gentiles in the town or city.

Briefly we note the following from this account that will carry us into the Letter.

1. Paul proclaimed Christ. He did not argue theological points or go into abstractions. It was the gospel that was paramount. As he wrote to the Thessalonians – {{1Thessalonians 2:4 “but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men but God who examines our hearts.”}}

2. Paul was at Thessalonica for three weeks (actually three Sabbaths) and that was between two and four weeks.

3. Because of resentment and jealousy, the Jews caused trouble and that resulted in Paul having to leave.

4. It is most interesting to note that those at Berea (probably the Jews who were at the synagogue) were more noble than the Thessalonians because they were more earnest with the scriptures.

MOVING TO CHAPTER 1

{{1Thessalonians 1:1 “Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. 1Thess 1:2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers, 1Thess 1:3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, 1Thess 1:4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you,”}}

VERSE 1-4. PAUL’S FAITHFUL PRAYER MINISTRY

The opening verse contains Paul’s universal greeting which is grace and peace. It is not a mystery why grace was so important to Paul, because it formed the very basis of his own call to salvation. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is at the heart of the gospel. This is God reaching out to man because the unsaved man is reprobate and left to his own devices, will never seek God. It is God’s grace that saves us. He who is saved from the gutter and the slave market of sin best appreciates the grace of God. That is why grace was so vibrant to John Bunyan and John Newton. Bunyan wrote “Grace Abounding” and Newton wrote “Amazing Grace”.

Peace is also a precious position. Warring parties can not be at peace and Isaiah says there is no peace residing with the wicked – {{Isaiah 57:21 “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”}} No matter how cheery a life may be, any life outside of God has no foundation of peace. It is God who breaks down the middle wall, that wall of partition our sins have made, and makes us “as one.” “At-one-ment” being at one, sinner and God. “ment” is the suffix meaning “state of being” so that is the meaning of atonement – “state of being at one” - at one with God. That then is peace.