A preview of the message to the Thessalonians
March 15th 2011 14:15
Why did the Apostle Paul write two Letters to the Thessalonians, and what is their relevance for us today?
1. Paul wrote to encourage and strengthen the believers in Thessalonica and to warn them of dangers to avoid.
They were young believers who had not reached maturity coming from a very dysfunctional heathen background and bringing their baggage with them. Though they were on their way to heaven, it sometimes appeared as if they were heading in the opposite direction. Not only were they spiritually immature, the "religious" Jews made life hard for them and they were constantly being pulled back into the ways of the world.
To further complicate things, the Jews were writing misleading letters to the new converts and signing Paul’s name to them. Because of Paul’s reputation, they were receiving the content of the letters as truth. Now is he writing to them in order to clarify the truth.
Things are not all that different today as we live in an increasingly secular world that tries to draw us into its mold. We still have trouble becoming spiritually mature and the world is still coming after us – so the message is just as relevant to us as it was to the Thessalonians.
2. Paul wrote to establish the Thessalonians in sound doctrine.
The book does not directly address Biblical doctrine, yet it is full of doctrine. It is impossible for us to live, teach or address anything from the Word of God without doctrine coming through it. Foundational doctrine will not change, but the circumstances of everyday life will…… When circumstances change, we need a firm foundation.
3. Paul wrote to challenge them to give up the “old life” in favor of the “new life”
The believers were far from perfect, and living closer to the world’s standards of life and morality than to Biblical principles.
4. Paul wrote to clarify some things about the Second Coming of Christ and to correct the false views and wrong practices they had been confronted with.
There are over 20 references to the Second Coming to which Paul emphasized three primary points: (a) He made the distinction between Christs coming FOR His own to claim His Bride before the Great Tribulation and (b) Christs coming WITH His own in Judgment and (c) the Day of the Lord, when Jesus will bring deliverance to Israel, judge the nations and set up His kingdom.
The ideas the Thessalonians held about the last days and the end time had them bound in fear and stressed out. Paul taught them to “know the truth” yet “walk in confidence and peace.”
Paul warned against date-fixing and dogmatism, and pointed out that what we believe about the Second Coming should influence and affect how we live our lives today.
5. Paul wrote because the Holy Spirit led him to write.
Paul physically wrote the letter, but God the Holy Spirit was the Author.
Now let’s study the letter beginning with the next post……..
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