God's Word Produces Godliness

III. THE PROPER RESPONSE TO GOD'S WORD PRODUCES GODLINESS THAT PROVOKES PERSECUTION

A. The Proper Response to God's Word Will Produce Godliness

1. For Two Reasons:

a. Because of the Integration of Faith

b. Because of the Power of God's Word -- the message comes from God with energizing power to work out His purposes

2. With One Result: Conformity to the Historical Pattern of Godliness

emphasis is on imitation in the area of persevering thru persecution

B. Godliness Provokes Persecution in Conformity to the Historical Pattern of the Suffering of God's People

1. Suffering of the Thess. believers at the hands of their own countrymen

2. Suffering of the Judean churches at the hands of the Jews

3. Suffering of the Lord Jesus and the prophets and the Missionary Team at the hands of the Jews

Aside on the Guilt and Condemnation of the Jews for such intense oppositon to God's program