1 Thess 2: – The kind of heart that is an ambassador for Christ

Class Outline:

Theme of Thessalonians: encouragement of believers to endure in godliness at all times, even when suffering.

 

Today we’re going to see in chapter 2 how the minister of the gospel endures, despite hardship. Paul makes an issue out of the fact that the gospel has to be taught, and the ones who do must behave in a way that is in harmony with the gospel’s truths.

 

In chapter one we saw the effect that the gospel had on both Paul and his team and the Thessalonians. The Thess. had works of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope. Their faith in the word of God that they received from Paul enabled them to endure through the heavy persecution that they faced in their own city.

 

Paul also faced this persecution when he entered the city and taught in the synagogue, and when he had to leave the city about a month later, he was very concerned for them. 1Th 3 tells us that Paul sent Timothy from Athens to Thessalonica in order to see how they had be faring; and Paul was over the moon to find out that they had received the word of God as from God and not from men, and their faith in the word of God not only gave them the motivation and ability to endure the suffering while behaving in a godly manner (for that only is what enduring is), but they did so with joy.

 

1TH 1:6

You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

 

Joy in persecution - knowing that you are serving God and He is pleased. You and God rejoice together, even if no one else is.

 

Hence, the main player in the theme of these books is the gospel. The good news of the Lord and what He has done is what Paul uses to give them encouragement to excel in their spiritual lives, and as a real world example, he is going to use himself and his team’s behavior when they spent their brief time in Thessalonica.

 

The next section, chapter 2, is an expansion of:

1TH 1:5

just as you know what kind [what manner] of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

 

Subtheme (chapter 2): The kind of believer who is an effective witness of the gospel is one who loves to please God more than men.

 

And yes, the rocks will speak if we don’t. Salvation of others does not depend upon us. That is never stated. What is stated again and again that in the places where God doesn’t have to use rocks, there are effective ambassadors for Him and they are vessels of honor who live the gospel.

 

The effective witness thinks something like, “People are generally not impressed with me so I decided to show them Christ and let them be impressed with Him.”

 

1TH 2:1-4

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, 2 but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. 3 For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; 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.

 

From where does Paul’s boldness to speak the gospel come?

 

The exhortation from Paul to the Thessalonians was not error or impurity or deceitful. They came with the gospel.

 

When we speak of the gospel, we know we are speaking truth and purity.

 

Paul says that he and his have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.

 

Approved - perfect passive of dokimazo = God tested and approved them.

 

The perfect tense means that they are still approved. In this case the perfect would mean for all time as far as their calling as apostles or ministers, but if they forsook the way of Christ, their approval as purveyors of the gospel would fail.

 

Anyone can speak the gospel, and we are glad that they do. Paul states in Php 1:15 that some taught Christ from envy and strife and still he rejoiced that Christ was being preached. But some taught Christ out of love. To speak of someone from the perspective of deep love for them makes all the difference in the effectiveness of your delivery, and also the pleasure you glean from doing so.

 

Paul’s calling at salvation made him approved, but what if he taught for selfish reasons? Would his ministry have been near as effective? 

 

Entrusted - pisteuo = believe, entrust. Also passive. God approved and trusted Paul. Can He trust you with your stewardship?

 

1CO 9:17

I have a stewardship entrusted to me

 

 Mat10:16-20

 Mat 10:16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. 10:17 "But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; 10:18 and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 10:19 "But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. 10:20 "For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.    

 

Paul is not bold in his speech because of his innate talent as a speaker, nor because his appearance is striking and pleasant.

 

2CO 10:7

For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible."

 

But Paul is not for a moment slowed by this opinion of others, even if it were the opinion of the whole world. He pleases God who sees the heart while man looks at the outward appearance.

 

2CO 10:17-18

HE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD. 18 For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.

 

With whom is the Lord pleased? Is He pleased with you?

 

 

That obviously, according to Scripture, does not mean to isolate yourself and ignore people. Pleasing God is rolling up your sleeves and serving people with the favors God has bestowed upon you.

 

1TH 2:1-4

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, 2 but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. 3 For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; 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.

 

We have to acknowledge that Paul loves what he’s doing despite how hard it is at times and how much effort it takes.

 

 

Paul has boldness to speak the gospel because the opinion of men are not his top priority. He suffered in Philippi and in Thessalonica, and still he went right on teaching the gospel because God’s approval was far more important to him.