1 Thessalonians 1

I. Greetings from Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy. Vs. 1

A. Greetings to the church in Thessalonica. Vs. 1

1. The local church was established in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Vs. 1

2. The local church has grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Vs. 1

II. God is to be praised for his work through them. Vs. 2-3

A. For their work of faith. Vs. 3

1. James 2:20 “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”

B. For their labor of love. Vs. 3

1. John 14:15 “ If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

2. John 15:10 “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”

3. John 21:15 “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.”

4. 1 John 3:18 “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

C. For their patience of hope. Vs. 3

1. James 5:7-8 “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”

III. How the church in Thessalonica was established. Vs. 4-6

A. By the election of God. Vs. 4

1. Chosen (elected) by God. Vs. 4

2. Their local church was not established by them, but by God.

3. Ephesians 1:17-23

B. By The Gospel. Vs. 5

1. In word.

a) 1 Thessalonians 2:13 “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

b) Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

2. In power.

a) 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

3. In the Holy Spirit.

a) John 16:13-15 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”

b) Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

4. In much assurance.

a) Colossians 2:2 “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;”

b) Hebrews 6:18-19 “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;”

c) Romans 8:31-39

C. They became followers of the Lord through us. Vs. 6

1. Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

D. They endured much affliction as they received the word. Vs. 6

1. James 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

2. Romans 5:3-5 “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

E. They had the joy of the Holy Ghost. Vs. 6

1. 1 Peter 4:13 “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

2. Ephesians 5:18-20 “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

IV. The church at Thessalonica is an example for everyone. Vs. 7-8

Matthew 5:14-16 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

A. In Macedonia and Achaia. Vs. 7

1. Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

B. They sounded out the word of the Lord everywhere. Vs. 8

1. Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

C. They were evangelists by their faith in God. Vs. 8

V. The testimony of the church in Thessalonica. Vs. 9-10

Luke 24:46-48 “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.”

A. How they received the Word. Vs. 9

B. How they turned to God from idols. Vs. 9

C. How they serve the living and true God. Vs. 9

D. How they waited for God’s son from heaven. Vs. 10

1. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

2. Whom he raised from the dead.

3. Who is Jesus.

4. Who has deliver them from the wrath to come.

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