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Our Great Hope Charles R. Biggs Introductory Notes: Meletius, the Roman writer said long ago, "So long as nature does not change, Thessalonica will remain wealthy and fortunate." Thessalonica was the largest and most important city in Macedonia and the capital of the province [illus. compare with New York City, its magnificent ports and the place where any imports or news passes to make its way into our newspapers, television broadcasts and dress shops; it is our "port or entryway from the rest of the world to America]. For Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, Thessalonica was a very "strategic place" humanly speaking, to preach the gospel to the "ends of the earth" as Jesus had said in Acts 1:8. While many Romans, and even Roman rulers called "politarchs" lived there as Luke tells us in Acts 17, the city remained basically Greek. But there was also a very strong Jewish community there as well. Because of its "strategic" place in the Roman Empire for preaching the gospel, you will remember Paul visited there immediately upon arriving in Macedonia. As was his custom, he began attending the synagogue and preaching there as Luke tells us in Acts 17:2. He did this for "three Sabbath days". According to Acts 17, it was a riot that ended Paul's activities in Thessalonica. Because of Paul's short stay and the riot that developed, there was much that he had not been able to instruct them in the truth of Christianity. We know from Luke's account in the Book of Acts, that when Paul preached the necessity for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and on the identity of Jesus as the Christ, "Some" Jews were converted, as were "a large number of God-fearing Greeks" and "not a few" of the chief women of the city. After Paul had left with Silas and Timothy, they went to Berea, but Jews came from Thessalonica to stir up more trouble. Paul left Silas and Timothy in Macedonia as he sailed for Athens, recorded for us in Acts 17. While Paul was in Athens, Timothy came to him, but Paul sent him back to Thessalonica to strengthen and encourage the believers according to 1 Thess. 3:2ff "during their trials for the faith". Not long after this, while Paul had gone to Corinth (a place in the nearby region of Achaia), Silas and Timothy came to him from Macedonia with good news: "Despite all difficulties the new believers were standing firm" (1 Thess. 3:6-9). Paul was encouraged as we see in Acts 18:5. Paul's joy and encouragement are reflected in his first epistle to new church in Thessalonica. Paul was thrilled by the progress of the new church and the report from Timothy showed that these new Christians needed further instruction in some matters, while they were facing yet more difficulties. So Paul took up pen to correct and encourage them to press on in the faith, hope, and love they were already showing as new Christians. This is a monumental letter not only for its content but also for its historical significance. This first epistle to the Thessalonians was the first epistle that Paul wrote to the newly established churches, at least one of the first epistles written in the early '50s AD. The epistle is the first of what would be known as the Pauline epistles and the first of its kind in the ancient world as letters to churches that were recently established. The Thessalonians needed to know of their great hope as a church, even in the midst of trials and tribulations! The great hope of the Thessalonians is the hope for all of Christ's churches! Let us consider then tonight, Our Great Hope as the people of God. Look at verses 1:1-4: NKJ 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, Paul begins his letter to the Church at Thessalonica, telling them after his apostolic greeting, that he is praying for them. Paul wanted to them to know if he could not personally with them, then they should know he was praying for them. Notice that Paul and Silvanus (Silas, NIV) and Timothy address the church as in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This is based upon Paul's understanding of the identity of the Church as being in union with Christ, in union with God, living "in" union with God day by day. His prayers are the beginning of the encouragement of hope he wants to bring to the somewhat discouraged Thessalonians. You will notice in vs. 3, Paul speaks of the divine triad in the Thessalonians' lives: faith, love and hope. It is interesting to note that at the end of the letter, he will also use this triad in 1 Thess. 5:8, when he says: "But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet." This "divine triad" of faith, love, and hope, forms what is called an inclusio, or a bracket around the contents of the letter to Thessalonica. This teaches us, as Paul will make clear in other places that these three: faith, hope and love are the bedrock of the Christian life. Paul's hope in writing the first letter back to the church he had to suddenly leave, is to raise their hopes in the promises and faithfulness of God. From chapter 2:17-3:5, it was obvious that Paul tried numerous times to visit them and to encourage them in their faith personally, but was unable because of Satan. In Acts 17:1-9 (cf. 1 Thess. 2:13-16), Paul experiences the jealousy of the Jews and the violent resistance that they stirred up while he was among them. It seems that at Thessalonica, the church was being thwarted from both Jews and Gentiles, and Paul was concerned as the Apostle to the Gentiles, that because they were new Christians, that their hope had been challenged, and that perhaps they would be tempted to give up on their faith. Paul wrote to encourage them in their hope, faith and love, in order that they might persevere regardless of circumstances challenging them. Because of the work of Christ and their hearing the Word of God, the Thessalonians needed to be encouraged that they truly were bearing good fruits produced by faith, that their labor and unity in the Church was prompted by love, and that they could only endure if they were inspired by the hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. But the Thessalonians were undergoing persecution in the city, probably from Jews but with even greater power, the Roman officials who were at Thessalonica. These Roman officials were thinking that Christianity was undermining the pagan temples and worship of the gods, as well as a threat to kurios Caesar, or "Lord Caesar". Because of this, Paul teaches the Thessalonians that their present hope must be in the love and mercy of God who had chosen them, as he says in vss. 4-5: "For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction" (NIV). A better translation is the NKJV which says that "the gospel came to them…in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance." The assurance and hope which the Thessalonians were to have were not to be driven by the outward threats of men, but they were founded upon the divine election and love of God and the ministry of the Holy Spirit who had worked in them. Although the safety of their lives was threatened by men, their true hope was not with men, but in God. For God who delivers them from his own wrath will deliver them out also, or sustain them through, the present wrath against them from man. Look at verses 5-7: 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, Paul begins his next teaching with reminiscences of their time together and of the Thessalonian's witness before the world. Although the Thessalonians were suffering greatly, they had the hope of God and the Holy Spirit who gave them assurance, or literally "full assurance". Assurance of what? Assurance of their election, their being loved by God, that Paul had spoken about at the end of v. 4. The assurance came because indeed they received the word in power…in the Holy Spirit, and with much power. Not only that, but they had Paul and his ministry of suffering as an example to them. At the end of vs. 5, Paul says: "…as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake." Paul had already suffered in order to bring to them the gospel of Christ Jesus and now they had become followers of this same suffering of Paul and of their Lord. Two things we want to understand about the background here: (1) There were Jewish leaders who were jealous of Paul's "sheep stealing", and so they were accusing Paul as being a lazy charlatan who did not work, but who profited by his teaching of so-called lies. Paul was a charlatan according to them, just one among the many other itinerant philosophers and magicians who taught their beliefs at this time in the Greco-Roman world; (2) Paul experienced tribulation or suffering because of his true testimony to Christ and His gospel in the midst of paganism and Jewish theology. In vs. 6, Paul says, "…You became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy in the Holy Spirit…" The Thessalonians were "followers of Paul and the Lord." The idea here is that as followers they were "imitators" of Paul and the Lord's ministry among them. In fact, through this imitation of Paul and the Lord's suffering, they were a great witness and example to all in the regions of Macedonia and Achaia because of their faith. Paul says a similar thing to the church later in his letter, in 1 Thess. 2:14: "For you, brothers, became imitators of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews…"- - but in contrast to those who scoffed at the gospel when at Thessalonica. When the gospel reaches rich and powerful cosmopolitan centers of the world, the truths of the gospel will fly directly in the face of the wealthy and powerful beliefs of the society! However, the Thessalonians also "received the word"- -this is the Word of the Lord, not originating from Paul's "own creative mind", as the persecutors were saying. The thing that changed and converted the Thessalonians was that the Word that they received "with much affliction" was none other than the life-giving words of God. It is interesting how Paul in v.6 speaks of the receiving of the word in much affliction, with joy in the Holy Spirit. Notice the comparison between verses 5 and 6. The Thessalonians had received the word with much power in the Holy Spirit leading them to full assurance. They also received the word "with much affliction" and this led to joy in the Holy Spirit. What is interesting is on the one hand, the Word received does indeed bring power and assurance, and it reveals to us our true status as the elect of God. On the other hand, the word can also cause us great pain, suffering and affliction just because it is in pointed opposition to the "words" and "ways" of the world. So the truth is: that there is power in the Holy Spirit, but at the same time, affliction- - leading to great joy! We recognize this reality in our own lives when we were converted by the Work of God's Word and Spirit- - yet we received affliction (and still receive affliction) from friends and family, and sometimes from those in authority over us! You might remember in Acts 13:49ff, Paul and Barnabas are in Pisidian, Antioch. After they had suffered the persecution of the Jews when they preached the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, they turned to the Gentiles. Acts 13:49-52 says, "And the word of the Lord spread throughout all the region. But the Jews incited (stirred up) the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of the district. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and went into Iconium." Then notice Acts 13:52, how it describes the response of Paul and Barnabas not only to those who received the word of God, but to also the persecution and suffering which they had endured: "And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit" (you may also recall Peter and John rejoicing in Acts 4 after receiving persecution for their confession of Christ). Now Paul comforts the Thessalonians as being true followers of him in suffering, but not only that, we must remember that in Acts 17:1-10, where Luke records Paul's visit to Thessalonica, Paul himself "…argued with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and raise from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus, whom I proclaim unto you is the Christ'." Now neither the Jews nor the Greek officials wanted to believe in a suffering Messiah who died…and talk of a resurrection?! What kind of nonsense is this, they would ask. This talk was contrary to their "high society" mentalities and sensibilities- -furthermore, they didn't want men thinking ill of them, nor did they want Caesar himself to be upset- - Caesar is considered as the image of the gods in this region! In contrast to this way of thinking, the Thessalonians were imitators of Paul as well as Paul's Lord in suffering! You may also remember when Paul and Barnabas had made their mission journeys through Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe, they were in the area and Lystra and Derbe and Jews came down from Antioch and Iconium because they had "won over the mulititudes" to Christ. They then stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city as dead, but he recovered and they continued to preach the gospel more fervently and even went back through the cities, the source of those who stoned him, and strengthened the new disciples and encouraging them to stand firm in the faith with these words…and I encourage all of the church to hear these words today: "Through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Because of God's love for the Thessalonians, they received the word of God as their hope when they heard it despite the real affliction they were undergoing from their fellow countrymen. They were made worthy of suffering along with Paul and with the Lord Jesus himself as they become followers of the truth and grace of the gospel that he proclaimed. When Paul was there in Thessalonica, the Word of God had plenty of time to be proclaimed and to save those whom the Lord prepared to hear it, but it was in the midst of persecution in the synagogue from the Jews. Now, in addition to the Jewish leaders, this persecution had increased because of the political and religious leaders in Thessalonica. Paul was forced to leave Thessalonica quickly as you may remember in Acts 17:10, and therefore he had not had the time he needed to tell them all about suffering for and with Christ. Some even thought that because some of the members had been killed in, or duing the persecution, that there was no hope for these. So Paul writes to encourage them in their present faith so that they are not like the seed which fell upon rocky places, that sprang up quickly, but had little soil, and therefore no root (cf. Mk. 4:5-6). How are we to understand the receiving of the word of God along with great affliction and also the joy of the Holy Spirit? Remember our Lord's words in John 16:33 that it is certain that the believer will experience tribulation, but it is equally certain that he will have an inner serenity, even a joy, that nothing in the world can give and nothing in the world can take away (John 16:22). In John 16:33, our Lord says: NKJ John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Prior to this, he said in John 16:22: "Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you." Suffering is always unpleasant, but for those who have been saved through the suffering of their Lord it has been transformed. The sufferings for the Christian, stimulate and increase, rather than diminish our hope. One teacher says, "The degree in which the believer is allowed to participate in the sufferings of his Lord should be the measure of his joy" (cf. Phil. 1:29; 1 Peter 4:13). Paul taught the Philippians in 1:29: "For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake…" Now look at verse 8: 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. Paul wants the suffering and persecuted believers to know that the Lord has used their persecution as Christians to bring the gospel to all those who hear of their faith. Paul says in v. 8: "The Lord's message rang out (sounded forth like a loud bell or alarm) from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia (the nearby regions), but your faith in God has become known everywhere." The emphasis in the Greek makes it clear that "in every place your faith in God has become known" (or has gone forth or gone out). Even Paul is receiving reports of how the providence of God in the Thessalonians' suffering is having an impact all over the world. By the power of the Spirit, the Thessalonian Christians are truly being witnesses to the "ends of the earth." The Thessalonians were examples to the world and although they had not preached in the manner we think of the "normal" missionary enterprise, their faith and their work, their love and their hope had been extended to other churches and had brought encouragement and growth in other places. What a divine purpose the Thessalonians were having revealed to them. It is like when you say something or do something in or for the church or even unbelievers, and you never really know that you said or did anything that proclaimed the gospel, but yet you hear later that your faith encouraged others. It is not only our true hope in the Lord, but it keeps us humble in realizing the purpose for which God allows certain things to come into our lives. It is a real and sovereign perspective of why we suffer and persevere even in the greatest trials- - so that God will be glorified in whatever we do for him. It is a reminder to all of us of what Paul says to the Church at Corinth, in 1 Cor. 15:58: "Stand firm; let nothing move you, always give yourself to the work of the Lord for you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." What hope and confidence this must have brought to the Thessalonian church! Finally, let us look at verses 9-10: 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, Now, Paul is probably writing this letter from Corinth and he himself is undergoing persecution. But it was not from the Thessalonians themselves that he hears reports of their faith, love and hope…it is from other churches in other areas, even those outside the area of Thessalonica. At the end of v.9 and 10, Paul speaks of the gospel en nuce, or in a nutshell as it can be understood. Despite persecutions, despite their doubts and lack of hope during certain times as baby Christians, the Thessalonians nevertheless are evidence of the gospel. As Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, they themselves are letters written for all the world to read- -both believers and unbelievers. He could have said: "You yourselves are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by men" (2 Cor. 3:2). Sometimes, the best judge of a church's faithfulness is not found in the member's testimonies, but in the observations believers and unbelievers are making from the outside. What do you think others think of our congregation? Do we at Trinity Reformed Presbyterian witness a unity of faith and hope and love? Do you see to it personally, by God's grace, that the world and other churches see a unity, or do you bring disunity in your life and doctrine? Think about it. The other churches declared to Paul and reported to him that the believers who had heard his message even in his short time in Thessalonica, had truly been made the Church of the Lord. The Thessalonians had truly shown their belief in the word and in the receiving of the Holy Spirit of hope through their faith and repentance. Paul says in v. 9: "…You turned from idols to serve the Living God." They turned from lifeless idols who could not save, and although this was the popular and received way of religious life in Thessalonica and the surrounding regions, they turned away from that which had no life and turned to the only Living and True God. The Thessalonians were convinced that things made of wood and clay and even marble, could not speak, had no virtue or power, and most definitely they were convinced could not save them from the wrath to come that Paul preached. The "turning" spoken of here is what is true of any true repentance. It is a turning away from those things we serve, the things we look to for all our hopes- -religious or secular; we turn away from them to serve God. This is faith and repentance working together. Remember, faith and repentance go hand and hand. Repentance is always believing, and faith, or believing is always repentant (Repeat). They turn away in order to follow, in order to believe upon the word of the Living God that was proclaimed to them. And although they now suffered, they waited as verse 10 teaches us, "…His Son from heaven." Not only have their affections and hope been turned from lifeless idols, their true hope in the midst of their suffering is in the Son to be revealed. The waiting spoken of in verse 10 is an "expectant waiting." It is a very rare word in the Greek NT, and the only time Paul uses this particular word. The word is used here to describe an intense longing and waiting for the Son of God to come from heaven. A variation of this word is used in Acts 1:4 when Jesus commands his disciples that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but "to wait on the promise of the Father," speaking of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This waiting is waiting upon not some vain imaginations or promises of man, but the true waiting that comes from one who believes in the promises of God. One such as the Thessalonian church who knew that God would keep his promises and send his Son to ultimately redeem them from the coming eschatological wrath! Compared to the wrath of man, this was God's wrath that will consume the wicked- -those who did not believe and did not turn and repentance to the Only Living God! The Son that the Thessalonians are waiting on is from heaven, the one whom God raised from the dead who is at God's right hand far above every principality and power! Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath as vs. 10 teaches us. This is the gospel hope of the Thessalonian church and the hope for us today! The hope that Paul wants to communicate to the church at Thessalonica and to us today is that during our present suffering, our hope is in heaven, our hope is in the Son who will be revealed from heaven. It reminds us of what Paul wrote to the Church at Colossae, in Col. 3:1-4. Paul had told them in Col. 2:12 that the Colossian believers "had been buried with Christ in baptism and raised with him through their faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead." In 3:1-4, Paul says: "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not only earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." The same hope is for us, as for the Thessalonian church. Although we suffer presently in various ways, real hope is unseen, but a reality that is made known because of the Holy Spirit which we have is the Spirit of hope (cf. 1 Thess. 1:5). Also, Paul would write to the suffering Roman Church in Romans 8:23ff: "…We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." So what encouragement and hope this must have brought the Thessalonians, and what hope for us today. Although the present circumstances may be unbearable, although our fellow countrymen, our friends and our family forsake us and persecute us; although even our government may make it impossible to serve our God and to worship freely in order to make Christ know to all men, we still have hope. Just because our hope is in heaven and the very origin of our hope is also the origin of the coming wrath upon the earth to judge the sinful world and to vindicate those who have turned from idols to serve the Living God. Remember, "Vengeance is mine," says the Lord, "it is mine to repay." The coming wrath is so severe and devastating that the prophets warned against this day. The prophet Amos said to the unbelievers: "Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD? That day will be darkness not light; It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light- - pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness? (NIV, Amos 5:18-20). Whatever wrath man may bring upon us because of our faith, let us stand strong and immovable in the hope and faithfulness of the Lord's promises. The Lord has not let his Son see corruption and has raised Jesus from the dead as a testimony to his faithfulness and power to all who believe. The Lord Jesus has taken upon himself the full wrath of God to satisfy his justice, to expiate our guilt, to propitiate God's wrath, and to fully pardon all of our sins. When Jesus suffered upon the cross, on that day of darkness- - the day of the LORD that was pitch-black as he took upon himself the sins of the world- - the Lord was pleased and although he turned his face of grace away from his only Son, he extended his hand of grace to all those who believed. And so, we have a true hope as we eagerly await the Son from heaven, the resurrected, glorified Son who has even now given us a taste of his Spirit so that even in our infirmities, we may have the confidence and assurance that we are children of God, co-heirs with Christ, that the Spirit will help us to pray in our weaknesses, and we can truly know that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ (cf. Rom. 8:35). Let us close considering the words of hope from Romans 8:35-39, with the understanding that we will suffer in Christ now, but we have a great hope: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" Paul asks, "Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (NIV). CRB
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