Be Ready What Every Church Should Be Chapter 2 I Thessalonians 1: 1-10

No church is perfect for we are made up of human beings saved by grace The Characteristics of an Ideal Church: –An Elect Church Church means “a called-out people” –A call shows divine election – God is calling out a people from the world (Acts 15: 13-18) 1. Salvation begins with God –God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation (II Thess.2:13) –Ye hath not chosen me, but I have chosen you (John 15:16) –He (the Father) hath chosen us in Him (Christ) before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:14) –The heart of God

2. Salvation involves God’s love –“brethren beloved” (2:17) and also by God –God’s love saves sinner –God’s grace gives us what we do not deserve –God’s mercy does not give us what we do deserve –Paul opened the letter often with “Grace be unto you” 3. Salvation involves faith –“For by grace are ye saved through faith” Eph 2:8 –Paul, Silvanus (Silas), & Timotheus (Timothy) preached the Gospel in power of God (1:5) –Some people who heard believed & turned from vain idols to the true living God (1:9) –The Spirit used God’s Word to generate faith (Romans 10:17) 4. Salvation Involves Trinity

–Father: you became saved when He chose you in Christ before the world began (Eph. 1:4) God Gave His Son that you might believe (John 3:16) –Son: You became saved when Jesus died for you (Romans 5:8) –Holy Spirit: You were saved when you heard the Word and trusted Jesus Christ (II Thess 2:13 - But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth –John 16: Salvation changes life –How did Paul Know? 1:3 Work of faithyou turned to God from idol Labor of loveyou serve the living God Patience of hopeyou wait for His Son from heaven

–Those whom God chooses He changes, but changed people aren’t perfect. –Faith, love, & hope are the three cardinal virtues of the Christian life and greatest evidences of salvation. »Faith must always lead to works (James 2:14-26) »“Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5) »Taught to “love one another” (I Thess 4:9) »“If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15) »Hope waits for Jesus Christ to return (1:10) –An Exemplary People (1:5-7) They received the Word (1:5) –They never lost eagerness for God’s Word (2:13) They followed their spiritual leaders (1:6a) –Followers – imitators –It’s important that the young Christians respect spiritual leadership and learn from mature Christians

–Like a newborn needing a family, a newborn Christian needs the local church and leaders there –As mature Christians we win souls and watch over the souls –They suffered for Christ (1:6b) »Christians turned from idols to serve the living God had made friends and relatives angry –They encouraged the other churches (1:7) »The believers set examples to encourage other surrounding churches. »They can “provoke unto love and good works” (Heb 10:24) and not compete with one another –An Enthusiastic People (1:8) They were receivers and transmitters Sounded out means to sound as a trumpet. Where Paul went, the people told him about the faith of the believers from Thessalonica

The local church has a responsibility and privilege to share the message of salvation with the lost world Many churches depend on the paid staff to do witnessing. In NT churches the entire congregations were involved. (Acts 2:44-47) A recent survey showed that 70-80% church growth is the result of friends witnessing to friends and relatives to relatives. Election and evangelism always go together. –Israel: elect nation to witness to the Gentiles –Church: elect that we might be witnesses 2.4 billion (1979) has no witnesses of the gospel.

–An Expectant People (1:9-10) Patience of hope made them an expectant people looking for their Savior’s return Paul related second coming to salvation –They looked for His return with joyful expectation and knew they would be delivered “from the wrath to come” (1:10) –When they worshipped the idols, they had no hope –When they trusted Jesus the living God, they had living hope (I Peter 1:2-3) –The living God has given us a living hope by raising His Son Jesus Christ from the dead. Two aspects of the Lord’s return –Jesus will come in the air for His church (4: 13-18) –Jesus will return to the earth with His church (II Thess 1: 5-10, Rev. 19: 1-21), defeat His enemies, and then set up the millennial kingdom (Rev. 20: 1-6)

–Wait in 1:10 mean “to await someone with patience and confidence expectantly” –Waiting involves activity and endurance »Keep busy and obey God’s Word »Parable of pounds (Luke 19: 11-27), we musy occupy till He returns »We are not waiting for signs, but for the Saviour –Waiting : »the redemption of the body (Rom. 8:23-25) »the hope of righteousness (Gal. 5:5) –When He returns: »We shall receive new bodies (Phil 3: 20-21) »We shall be like Him (I John 3:12) »He shall take us to the home He has prepared for us (John 14: 1-6) »He shall reward us for the service (Romans 14: )

–Expecting our Lord’s return is a motivator for soul- winning (2: 19-20) and Christian stability (3: 11-13) »Wonderful comfort in sorrows (4: 13-18) »A great encouragement for godly living (5: 23-24) –Tragic to forget the doctrine, but it’s more tragic to believe and preach it, but do not practice it.