Author: drthomasclothier

“To fill up their sins always; for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.” — 1 Thessalonians 2:16.

There will be reprinted for the next several days classic sermons from I Thessalonians 2. Today, Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) message from I Thessalonians 2:16 is featured. It is entitled When the Wicked Shall Have Filled Up the Measure of Their Sin, Wrath Will Come Upon Them to the Uttermost.

Subject: When those that continue in sin have filled up the measure of their sins, then wrath will come upon them to the uttermost.

God never stirs up all his wrath against wicked men while in this world. But when once wicked men shall have filled up the measure of their sins, then wrath will come upon them to the uttermost; and that in the following respects:

1. Wrath will come upon them without any restraint or moderation in the degree of it. God doth always lay, as it were, a restraint upon himself. He doth not stir up his wrath. He stays his rough wind in the day of his east wind. He let’s not his arm light down on wicked men with its full weight. But when sinners shall have filled up the measure of their sins, there will be no caution, no restraint. His rough wind will not be stayed nor moderated. The wrath of God will be poured out like fire. He will come forth, not only in anger, but in the fierceness of his anger; he will execute wrath with power, so as to show what his wrath is, and make his power known. There will be nothing to alleviate his wrath. His heavy wrath will lie on them, without anything to lighten the burden, or to keep off, in any measure, the full weight of it from pressing the soul. — His eye will not spare, neither will he regard the sinner’s cries and lamentations, however loud and bitter. Then shall wicked men know that God is the Lord. They shall know how great that majesty is which they have despised, and how dreadful that threatened wrath is which they have so little regarded. Then shall come on wicked men that punishment which they deserve. God will exact of them the uttermost farthing. Their iniquities are marked before him; they are all written in his book. And in the future world he will reckon with them, and they must pay all the debt. Their sins are laid up in store with God. They are sealed up among his treasures; and them he will recompense, even recompense into their bosoms. The consummate degree of punishment will not be executed till the day of judgment. But the wicked are sealed over to this consummate punishment immediately after death; they are cast into hell, and there bound in chains of darkness to the judgment of the great day; and they know that the highest degree of punishment is coming upon them. Final wrath will be executed without any mixture. All mercy [and] all enjoyments will be taken away. God sometimes expresses his wrath in this world. But here good things and evil are mixed together. In the future there will be only evil things.

2. Wrath will then be executed without any merciful circumstances. The judgments which God executes on ungodly men in this world are attended with many merciful circumstances. There is much patience and long-suffering, together with judgment. Judgments are joined with continuance of opportunity to seek mercy. But in hell there will be no more exercises of divine patience. The judgments which God exercises on ungodly men in this world are warnings to them to avoid greater punishments. But the wrath which will come upon them, when they shall have filled up the measure of their sin, will not be of the nature of warnings. Indeed, they will be effectually awakened, and made thoroughly sensible, by what they shall suffer. Yet their being awakened and made sensible will do them no good. Many a wicked man hath suffered very awful things from God in this world, which have been a means of saving good. But that wrath which sinners shall suffer after death will be no way for their good. God will have no merciful design in it. Neither will it be possible that they should get any good by that or by anything else.

3. Wrath will be so executed, as to perfect the work to which wrath tends, viz. utterly to undo the subject of it. Wrath is often so executed in this life, as greatly to distress persons, and bring them into great calamity. Yet not so as to complete the ruin of those who suffer it. But in another world, it will be so executed, as to finish their destruction, and render them utterly and perfectly undone. It will take away all comfort, all hope, and all support. The soul will be, as it were, utterly crushed; the wrath will be wholly intolerable. It must sink, and will utterly sink, and will have no more strength to keep itself from sinking than a worm would have to keep itself from being crushed under the weight of a mountain. The wrath will be so great, so mighty and powerful, as wholly to abolish all manner of welfare, Mat. 21:44, “But on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”

4. When persons shall have filled up the measure of their sin, that wrath will come upon them which is eternal. Though men may suffer very terrible and awful judgments in this world, yet those judgments have an end. They may be long continued, yet they commonly admit of relief. Temporal distresses and sorrows have intermissions and respite, and commonly by degrees abate and wear off. But the wrath that shall be executed, when the measure of sin shall have been filled up, will have no end. Thus, it will be to the uttermost as to its duration. It will be of so long continuance, that it will be impossible it should be longer. Nothing can be longer than eternity.

5. When persons shall have filled up the measure of their sin, then wrath will come upon them to the uttermost of what is threatened. Sin is an infinite evil; and the punishment which God hath threatened against it is very dreadful. The threatening’s of God against the workers of iniquity are very awful; but these threatening’s are never fully accomplished in this world. However dreadful things some men may suffer in this life, yet God never fully executes his threatening’s for so much as one sin, till they have filled up the whole measure. The threatening’s of the law are never answered by anything that any man suffers here. The most awful judgment in this life doth not answer God’s threatening’s, either in degree, or in circumstances, or in duration. If the greatest sufferings that ever are endured in this life should be eternal, it would not answer the threatening. Indeed, temporal judgments belong to the threatening’s of the law; but these are not answered by them; they are but foretastes of the punishment. “The wages of sin is death.” No expression of wrath that are suffered before men have filled up the measure of their sin are its full wages. But then, God will reckon with them, and will recompense into their bosoms the full deserved sum.

The only hope of escaping the wrath of God is to repent of one’s sin and receive by God-given faith alone Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord (Eph. 2:1-10). May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.  

Soli deo Gloria!

“To fill up their sins always; for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.” — 1 Thessalonians 2:16.

There will be reprinted for the next several days classic sermons from I Thessalonians 2. Today, Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) message from I Thessalonians 2:16 is featured. It is entitled When the Wicked Shall Have Filled Up the Measure of Their Sin, Wrath Will Come Upon Them to the Uttermost.

Subject: When those that continue in sin have filled up the measure of their sins, then wrath will come upon them to the uttermost.

PROPOSITION II. While men continue in sin, they are filling the measure set them. This is the work in which they spend their whole lives. They begin in their childhood; and if they live to grow old in sin, they still go on with this work. It is the work with which every day is filled up. They may alter their business in other respects. They may sometimes be about one thing and sometimes about another, but they never change from this work of filling up the measure of their sins. Whatever they put their hands to, they are still employed in this work.

This is the first thing that they set themselves about when they awake in the morning, and the last thing they do at night. They are all the while treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath, and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God. It is a gross mistake of some natural men, who think that when they read and pray, they do not add to their sins. But on the contrary, [they] think they diminish their guilt by these exercises. They think, that instead of adding to their sins, they do something to satisfy for their past offenses. But instead of that, they do but add to the measure by their best prayers, and by those services with which they themselves are most pleased.

PROPOSITION III. When once the measure of their sins is filled up, then wrath will come upon them to the uttermost. God will then wait no longer upon them. Wicked men think that God is altogether such a one as themselves, because, when they commit such wickedness, he keeps silence. “Because judgment against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the children of men is fully set in them to do evil.” But when once they shall have filled up the measure of their sins, judgment will be executed; God will not bear with them any longer.

Now is the day of grace, and the day of patience, which they spend in filling up their sins. But when their sins shall be full, then will come the day of wrath, the day of the fierce anger of God. — God often executes his wrath on ungodly men, in a less degree, in this world. He sometimes brings afflictions upon them, and that in wrath. Sometimes he expresses his wrath in very sore judgments. Sometimes he appears in a terrible manner, not only outwardly, but also in the inward expressions of it on their consciences. Some, before they died, have had the wrath of God inflicted on their souls in degrees that have been intolerable.

But these things are only forerunners of their punishment, only slight foretastes of wrath. God never stirs up all his wrath against wicked men while in this world. But when once wicked men shall have filled up the measure of their sins, then wrath will come upon them to the uttermost; and that in the following respects: (To be continued).

The only hope of escaping the wrath of God is to repent of one’s sin and receive by God-given faith alone Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord (Eph. 2:1-10). May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.  

Soli deo Gloria!

“To fill up their sins always; for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.” — 1 Thessalonians 2:16.

There will be reprinted for the next several days a classic sermon from I Thessalonians 2. Today, Jonathan Edwards’ (1703-1758) message from I Thessalonians 2:16 is featured. It is entitled When the Wicked Shall Have Filled Up the Measure of Their Sin, Wrath Will Come Upon Them to the Uttermost.

Subject: When those that continue in sin have filled up the measure of their sins, then wrath will come upon them to the uttermost.

In verse 14, the apostle commends the Christian Thessalonians that they became the followers of the churches of God in Judea, both in faith and in sufferings. In faith, in that they received the Word, not as the word of man, but as it is in truth the Word of God. In sufferings, in that they had suffered like things of their own countrymen, as they had of the Jews. Upon which the apostle sets forth the persecuting, cruel, and perverse wickedness of that people, “who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have,” says he, “persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they might be saved.” Then come in the words of the text; “To fill up their sins always; for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.”

In these words, we may observe two things:

1. To what effect was the heinous wickedness and obstinacy of the Jews, viz. to fill up their sins. God hath set bounds to every man’s wickedness. He suffers men to live, and to go on in sin, till they have filled up their measure, and then cuts them off. To this effect was the wickedness and obstinacy of the Jews. They were exceedingly wicked, and thereby filled up the measure of their sins a great pace. And the reason why they were permitted to be so obstinate under the preaching and miracles of Christ, and of the apostles, and under all the means used with them, was, that they might fill up the measure of their sins. This is agreeable to what Christ said, Mat. 23:31, 32, “Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.”

2. The punishment of their wickedness. “The wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.” There is a connection between the measure of men’s sin, and the measure of punishment. When they have filled up the measure of their sin, then is filled up the measure of God’s wrath.

The degree of their punishment, is the uttermost degree. This may respect both a national and personal punishment. If we take it as a national punishment, a little after the time when the epistle was written, wrath came upon the nation of the Jews to the uttermost, in their terrible destruction by the Romans; when, as Christ said, “was great tribulation, such as never was since the beginning of the world to that time,” Mat. 24:21. That nation had before suffered many of the fruits of divine wrath for their sins; but this was beyond all, this was their highest degree of punishment as a nation.

If we take it as a personal punishment, then it respects their punishment in hell. God often punishes men very dreadfully in this world; but in hell “wrath comes on them to the uttermost.” — By this expression is also denoted the certainty of this punishment. For though the punishment was then future, yet it is spoken of as present: “The wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.” It was as certain as if it had already taken place. God, who knows all things, speaks of things that are not as though they were; for things present and things future are equally certain with him. It also denotes the near approach of it. The wrath IS come; i.e. it is just at hand; it is at the door; as it proved with respect to that nation; their terrible destruction by the Romans was soon after the apostle wrote this epistle.

DOCTRINE

When those that continue in sin shall have filled up the measure of their sin, then wrath will come upon them to the uttermost.

PROPOSITION I. There is a certain measure that God hath set to the sin of every wicked man. God says concerning the sin of man, as he says to the raging waves of the sea, hitherto shalt thou come, and no further. The measure of some is much greater than of others.

Some reprobates commit but a little sin in comparison with others, and so are to endure proportionably a smaller punishment. There are many vessels of wrath; but some are smaller and others greater vessels. Some will contain comparatively but little wrath, others a greater measure of it. Sometimes, when we see men go to dreadful lengths, and become very heinously wicked, we are ready to wonder that God lets them alone. He sees them go on in such audacious wickedness, and keeps silence, nor does anything to interrupt them, but they go smoothly on, and meet with no hurt.

But sometimes the reason why God lets them alone is because they have not filled up the measure of their sins. When they live in dreadful wickedness, they are but filling up the measure which God hath limited for them. This is sometimes why God suffers very wicked men to live so long; because their iniquity is not full, Gen. 15:16, “The iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” For this reason, also God sometimes suffers them to live in prosperity. Their prosperity is a snare to them, and an occasion of their sinning a great deal more. Wherefore God suffers them to have such a snare, because he suffers them to fill up a larger measure. So, for this cause, he sometimes suffers them to live under great light, and great means and advantages, at the same time to neglect and disimprove all. Everyone shall live till he hath filled up his measure.

The only hope of escaping the wrath of God is to repent of one’s sin and receive by God-given faith alone Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord (Eph. 2:1-10). May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.  

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁷ But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, ¹⁸ because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. ¹⁹ For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.” (1 Thessalonians 2:17–20 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul was a great herald to God’s truth. The greater part of the New Testament Scriptures was written by him, through the person and work of the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). Second only to the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul was/is the greatest theologian of the church.

However, in spite of his missionary work, his understanding of the biblical truths of salvation and his commitment to the gospel, Paul was a pastor. He possessed a pastor’s heart for God’s people.

Interestingly enough, Paul, along with Silas and Timothy, had tender feelings for the Thessalonian believers. In today’s text, listen and mediate upon the emotion and tone of these words. “But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face,”

We can grasp a sense the trio’s pain of being torn away from this loving church. Paul’s words convey a real sorrow and sadness. Although the pain is deep, the physical separation cannot diminish what these three missionaries felt for these believers in their heart and soul. This church was close to them; as close as a congregation could be.

Paul continued to explain why he, Silas and Timothy and yet to return to Thessalonian believers. He wanted them to know for certain it was not because they did not love them. Rather, it was because of spiritual warfare and conflict. Paul wrote, “we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.”

Satan (Σατανᾶς; satanas), borrowing from the Hebrew and Aramaic, means adversary. It is a proper name for the Devil (Acts 26:18).

“Satan, had prevented the missionaries from carrying out their ardent wish to return to Thessalonica. Just how did Satan do this? By influencing the minds of the politarchs at Thessalonica, so that they would have caused Jason to forfeit his bond (Acts 17:9) in case the missionaries had returned? By bringing about a sufficient amount of trouble elsewhere so that neither Paul alone nor all three were able to return? We just do not know,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.

“Moreover, it does not matter. The fact as such that Satan exerts a powerful influence over the affairs of men, especially when they endeavor to promote the interests of the kingdom of God, is sufficiently clear from other passages (Job 1:6–12; Zech. 3:1; cf. Daniel, chapter 10). Nevertheless, God ever reigns supreme, over-ruling evil for good (2 Cor. 12:7–9; Job 1-2). Even when the devil tries to chop up the road that lies ahead, thus apparently blocking our advance, God’s hidden plan is never wrecked. Satan may cut in on us, preventing us from doing what, for the moment, seems best to us, God’s ways are always better than ours.”

Affirming their fond affection for this church, Paul wrote, “¹⁹ For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.”

Hope (ἐλπὶς; elpis) means confidence. Joy (χαρὰ; chara) refers to gladness and its reasons. Crown (στέφανος; stephanos) is a prize or accomplishment. Boasting (καυχήσεως; kaucheseos) refers to what one is rightfully proud (2 Cor. 7:4). Paul answered this multi-layered rhetorical question by his next statement;” Is it not you?”  It certainly was.

Paul then wrote, “For you are our glory and joy. The Thessalonians were the missionaries’ source of praise and gladness.

“Paul’s affection rose to its climax in this almost lyrical passage. The Philippian believers were the only others who received such warm words of personal love from Paul,” writes commentator Thomas L. Constable in the Bible Knowledge Commentary.

“He voiced a rhetorical question to heighten the intensity of his fervor. In effect he asked what would be the greatest blessing he could possibly receive at the judgment seat of Christ. They were! They were everything that was worth anything to Paul.”

“They were his hope; their development was what he lived for as a parent lives to see his children grow up to maturity, to produce and reproduce. They were his joy, they filled his life with sunshine as he thought of what they used to be, what they had become, and what they would be by the grace of God. They were his crown; they themselves were the symbol of God’s blessing on his life and ministry. They were his glory and joy, and not only his but also the glory and joy of his companions in labor.”

“Paul said in essence, “When life is over and we stand in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming, you Thessalonians will be our source of glory and joy; you mean that much to us.” This profession of affection should have removed any thoughts from the Thessalonian Christians’ minds that Paul had not returned because he was unconcerned or selfish,” concludes Constable.

Who can we contact today to say how much we love them in the Lord Jesus Christ? Whether they are near of far, a pleasant word is a blessed gift. May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁷ But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, ¹⁸ because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. ¹⁹ For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.” (1 Thessalonians 2:17–20 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul was a great herald to God’s truth. The greater part of the New Testament Scriptures was written by him, through the person and work of the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). Second only to the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul was/is the greatest theologian of the church.

However, in spite of his missionary work, his understanding of the biblical truths of salvation and his commitment to the gospel, Paul was a pastor. He possessed a pastor’s heart for God’s people.

This character trait of Paul is normally aligned with his letter to the Philippian believers, to whom he wrote one of his most personal New Testament letters. How many times have we shared these words to a dear brother or sister in Christ.

³ I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, ⁴ always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶ And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ⁷ It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. ⁸ For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:3–11 (ESV)

Interestingly enough, Paul, along with Silas and Timothy, had the same tender feelings for the Thessalonian believers. In today’s text, listen and mediate upon the emotion and tone of these words. “But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face,”

Do you sense the trio’s pain of being torn away from this loving church? The phrase torn away (ἀπορφανισθέντες; aporphanisthentes) is one lengthy Greek word. It means to become an orphan. It refers to the deep bereavement by a parent when separated from their child. This phrase conveys a real sorrow and sadness. Although the pain is deep, the physical separation cannot diminish what these three missionaries feel for these believers in their heart and soul. This church is close to them; as close as a congregation can be.

“Paul had been forcedly separated from his spiritual children (cf. Acts 17:5–9). His motherly (1 Thess. 2:7) and fatherly instincts (v. 11) had been dealt a severe blow. Lit., the Thessalonians had been orphaned by Paul’s forced departure,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

While Paul anticipates the separation to only be for a short time, there is the eager anticipation of reuniting with the Thessalonians. The word endeavored (ἐσπουδάσαμεν; espoudasamen) means to make haste, to be zealous, and to be diligent. The phrase the more eagerly (περισσοτέρως; perissoteros) informs us the haste, zealousness and diligence to be with this group of believers was abundant and to a great degree. Added to this strong emotional tone is the phrase great desire (πολλῇ ἐπιθυμίᾳ; polle epithymia). This refers to a large longing. Paul, Silas and Timothy earnestly long to see these Christians in person.

My wife and I are associated with a youth camp in northern Michigan. For many years, decades in fact, we have prayed, financially supported and brought campers to this summer place of lifelong memories and forever friends. We reunite there with Christian couples who have been as close to us as anyone could be. The joy of a week of fellowship and ministry satisfies the 51 weeks of anticipation for that week of joy and ministry. This is what Paul must have felt.

Who is there in your life who you need to contact and express your love for them? Do it today because we never know when the time to do so will be gone forever.

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!  

² “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. ³ At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— ⁴ that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.” Colossians 4:2–4 (ESV)

The reading, studying and application of God’s Word, corporate along with individual worship, communion or fellowship with fellow believers and the sharing of the gospel to the lost are indispensable disciplines and responsibilities for each believer in Christ. Along with these is the discipline and practice of prayer. Since God speaks to the believer through His inerrant Word, then the believer speaks to God through the privilege of prayer.

“Oh! divine Redeemer, out of whose inexhaustible fullness I would daily draw a rich supply of grace into my needy soul, be pleased to impart unto me an undivided heart; that to please You, may be my greatest happiness, and to promote Your glory my highest honor. Preserve me from false motives, from a double mind, and a divided heart. Keep me entirely to Yourself, and enable me to crucify every lust, which would tempt my heart from You. Enable me by Your grace to walk in one uniform path of holy, childlike obedience. When tempted to turn aside to the right hand or to the left, may I keep steadily Your way, until brought before Your throne, I see Your face, behold Your smile, and fall in ecstasy at Your feet, lost in wonder, love, and praise.” — Thomas Reade, “On the Blessedness of a New Heart”

The Apostle Paul was not only concerned for the Thessalonians’ personal prayer of continua steadfastness, watchfulness and thanksgiving. He was also concerned these believers in Christ would be praying for him, Silas and Timothy.

Paul’s prayer request was as all prayers should be; specific and God honoring. Paul asked the Thessalonians to pray so “that God may open to us a door for the word,” Prayer is not to be a passive posture of good thoughts. God directs us to make our requests appeals to Him. Missionary and author Elizabeth Elliot writes, “Things happen which would not happen without prayer. Let us not forget that.”

John Calvin writes, “He does not say this by way of pretense, but because, being conscious to himself of his own necessity, he was earnestly desirous to be aided by their prayers, and was fully persuaded that they would be of advantage to them. Who then, in the present day, would dare to despise the intercessions of brethren, which Paul openly declares himself to stand in need of? And, unquestionably, it is not in vain that the Lord has appointed this exercise of love between us — that we pray for each other. Not only, therefore, ought each of us to pray for his brethren, but we ought also, on our part, diligently to seek help from the prayers of others, as often as occasion requires.”

Paul used a familiar biblical metaphor regarding the spread of the gospel. He requested his fellow believers specifically pray for an open door for the word. Door (θύραν; thyran) refers to an opening and entrance. It is a means of approach or access. In this context, Paul desired an opening and entrance for the gospel or the word of God. He knew prayers to this end by the Thessalonians would prove indispensable.

The phrase “to declare the mystery of Christ” refers to the gospel. Paul mentioned this in Col. 1:26-27 and 2:1-3. It is a euphemism Paul also used in his letter to the Ephesians. “For this reason, I Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— ² assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ³ how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. ⁴ When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. ⁶ This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” (Ephesians 3:1–6 (ESV)

Paul’s preaching the gospel was the reason for him being in a Roman prison (Acts 28:1-31). However, even while incarcerated for preaching he desires to continue to herald the word of God clarity and a commitment to the truth.

“The following story is about Duncan Campbell, a minister of the United Free Church of Scotland. He was a personal friend of Wesley Duewel and told him many stories of God’s amazing guidance during the late 1950s and ’60s in the Hebrides (the islands just west of Scotland) where Campbell was serving.”

“On the Monday after Easter in 1952, Duncan was seated on the platform after speaking to the Faith Mission Convention in Bangor, Northern Ireland, when he sensed the inner voice say to him, “Berneray!” (That is a small island in the Hebrides.) Duncan bowed his head and prayed silently. Again came the name “Berneray.” He prayed on, and the name came a third time.”

“So Campbell turned to the chairman and whispered, “Brother, you will need to excuse me. The Holy Spirit has just told me that I am to go to Berneray.” The chairman objected mildly, “You are the speaker tomorrow.” But nothing could stop him. He knew the Spirit had spoken.”

“He reminded Wesley Duewel, who was telling this story, “I had never been to Berneray, had never known anyone from there, and had never received a letter from anyone there.”

“He went to the hotel and packed his two suitcases and contacted the airport. There were no connections with Berneray because it was too small and out of the way. So he caught the first flight to the nearest island.”

“When he got there he went down to the coast and asked how to get to Berneray. The answer from a fisherman was that there is no usual commercial way, but that he would take him for such and such an amount. It was almost the exact amount Campbell had in his pocket.”

“When they got to Berneray the fisherman returned and left Campbell alone on the shore. He climbed the bluff and found himself on the edge of a plowed field and a farmer not far away. He said, “Please go to the nearest pastor and tell him Duncan Campbell has arrived.” The farmer responded, “We don’t have a minister for the church now.” “Do you have elders?” Campbell asked. “Yes.” “All right, go to the nearest elder and tell him, Duncan Campbell has arrived.”

“The farmer looked at him quizzically, then started off across the field as Campbell rested on his suitcases. After a while the farmer returned and said, “The elder was expecting you. He has a place ready for you. He has announced the meetings begin at nine o’clock tonight.”

“While Campbell had been ministering in the convention at Bangor three days earlier, this elder had spent the day praying in his barn for God to send revival to the island. God gave him the promise in Hosea 14:5: “I will be as the dew unto Israel.” He claimed it in faith. His wife in the house heard him praying in the barn, “Lord, I don’t know where he is, but You know, and with You all things are possible. You send him to the island.” He knew in his heart that God was going to send Duncan Campbell, who had been used in mighty revival in other parts of Scotland, to Berneray. He was so sure that he would be there in three days that he made all the arrangements to use the local church and had announced the services.”

“Wesley Duewel goes on to say that great revival came to the island of Berneray and a great door for the Word was opened that no man could shut because God opened it. He draws out this lesson: “When God has people who prevail in prayer, and people who know how to recognize the voice of the Spirit and obey without question, there is no limit to what God can do.”

(Story taken in part verbatim from Let God Guide You Daily by Wesley Duewel, Zondervan, 1988, pp. 117–119.)

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁴ “For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, ¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind ¹⁶ by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!” (1 Thessalonians 2:14–16 (ESV)

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church>” – Tertullian (155-220 AD).

“We must all have the spirit of martyrdom, though we may not all die martyrs.” – George Whitfield (1714-1770)

^“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15 (ESV)

The Thessalonians were dedicated mimics or imitators of the Lord, Paul, Silas and Timothy along with the churches in Judea. They loved the truth of God.

“In order to bring home this idea Paul states that not only the Thessalonians are grateful for the spiritual blessings which they have received, but so are the missionaries (hence, “we also,” that is, “we as well as you”). Without ceasing they thank God for the manner in which the Thessalonians have accepted the message and for the influence which this word of God has exerted upon their lives. In other words, we have here a further elucidation and amplification of 1:6, just as 2:1–12 is an expatiation of the thought begun in 1:5,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.

“The word, accordingly, was operating; it was “at work,” effective in the lives of believers. And the reason why the word was at work, and this in a favorable sense, was that it was the word of God: by means of that word, God himself was working (cf. Phil. 2:13).”

The Thessalonians proved the power of God’s Word as they faced fierce persecution from their fellow citizens, which they endured with God given faith and joy (Acts 17:5-9). The Apostle referred to those “who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind.” To displease (ἀρεσκόντων; areskonton) refers to causing someone to not feel happy or joyful. These opponents of the Thessalonians were ultimately opponents of God. To oppose (ἐναντίων; enantion) means to be hostile. These individuals were not only hostile to God but anyone who was a follower of Jesus Christ.

Enemies of God have always hated Him and His disciples. Therefore, it is unwise for the church to try to become friendly with the fallen world and to make the gospel appealing and attractive. This never works because rather than seeing people converted to Christ, the church converts to the philosophy of the fallen world.

“When Paul mentions the Jews and the havoc which they had wrought in Judea, he realizes, of course, that they, too, as well as the Gentiles, had tried and were trying to destroy the faith of the Thessalonian believers. It was as a result of their instigation that the missionaries had been forced to leave the city (Acts 17:5–9). In the beginning the Jews had aroused the Gentiles, including the magistrates, to take a stand against the Gospel and its messengers. There is no good reason to believe that their hostile attitude had ceased since that time (see, e.g., Acts 17:13),” continues Dr. Hendriksen.

Paul continued further about these opponents to the gospel. He wrote they were, “hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!”

“History shows that there will always be opposition to the Word of God from those outside the covenant,” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.

“For example, when Moses charged Pharaoh to free the Israelites from slavery, Pharaoh made life even harder for God’s people (Ex. 5). More tragically, however, people who belonged to the covenant community of Israel also opposed the Word of God. Jeremiah was put in stocks for preaching the word of the Lord (Jer. 20:1–2). Zechariah, through whom the Holy Spirit spoke, was killed by King Joash of Judah for prophesying against him (2 Chron. 24:20–22). Worst of all, Jesus Himself was put to death by those Jews who rejected Him and who handed Him over to the Romans for execution (John 18:1–19:37).”

“Having saving faith in the Lord makes oneself a target of the devil’s ire, and the Thessalonians’ persecution by fellow gentiles for their faith demonstrated the truth of their commitment to Christ.” concludes Dr. Sproul.

The wrath of God of which Paul spoke is explained in Romans 1:18-21. “¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. ¹⁹ For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. ²¹ For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Romans 1:18–21 (ESV)

“What Paul teaches is in full harmony with Rom. 9–11. (See also p. 19.) However, in Romans there is additional revelation. He there shows that though this wrath to the uttermost has reached the Jewish masses, there is, nevertheless, in every period of history, “a remnant according to the election of grace.” These remnants of all the ages, taken together, constitute “all Israel” which “shall be saved” (Rom. 11:26a). Hence, no one has a right to say, “God is through with the Jews.” Anti-Semitism, moreover, is very definitely anti-scriptural! In the present passage (1 Thess. 2:16), however, all the emphasis is on the curse which the Jews have called down upon themselves by rejecting the Christ and his ambassadors,” concludes Dr. Hendriksen.

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a God honoring day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁴ “For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, ¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind ¹⁶ by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!” (1 Thessalonians 2:14–16 (ESV)

In the Upper Room Jesus said to His disciples, “^I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 (ESV)

 The Apostle Paul wrote to his young protégé Timothy, ¹² “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, ¹³ while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:12–13 (ESV)

The Apostle Peter explained, “¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. ¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. ¹⁶ Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:12–17 (ESV)

Suffering on behalf of the Lord Jesus has always been the lot of the believer in Christ. It has always been so. Why? Jesus said, “

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. ²¹ But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ Whoever hates me hates my Father also. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. ²⁵ But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’” (John 15:18–25 (ESV)

Therefore, it should not be surprising to us that Paul, Silas and Timothy acknowledged the Thessalonian believers had suffered for the Lord. This was a definitive mark of the true believer in Christ (I Thess. 1:6-7). It always has been throughout church history and in today’s contemporary church.

“For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea.” Imitators (μιμηταὶ; mimetai) means to walk or to follow. It parallels the Hebrew word “halak” meaning to follow God’s ways. We derive the English word “mimic” from this Greek noun. Not only had the Thessalonians been imitators of Paul, Silas and Timothy and the Lord, they also were imitators of other churches in the region of Judea (I Thess. 1:6).

The imitation Paul spoke of regarding the Thessalonians was their willingness to suffer for the sake of the Gospel and the Lord Jesus Christ. “For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews.” Acts 17:1-9 chronicles the jealous reaction by unbelievers towards the early Thessalonian church which paralleled what the early Jewish Christian encountered (Acts 8:1-3).

“Not only were the Thessalonians imitators of Paul and the Lord (cf. 1:6), but also of the churches in Judea in the sense that they both were persecuted for Christ’s sake (cf. Acts 4:1–4; 5:26; 8:1). They drank Christ’s cup of suffering (Matt. 26:39) and walked in the way of the OT prophets (Matt. 21:33–46; Luke 13:34),” explains Dr. John MacArthur.   

“The Thessalonians has in good earnest embraced the gospel, as being presented to them by God, inasmuch as they courageously endured the assaults which Satan made upon them, and did not refuse to suffer anything rather than leave off obedience to it. And unquestioningly, this is no slight test of faith when Satan, by all his machinations, has no success in moving us away from the fear of God,” concludes John Calvin.

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹³ And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV)

The Thessalonian church was a growing and godly assembly of believers in Christ. The Apostle Paul previously mentioned their work of faith, labor of love and steadfastness of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ (I Thess. 1:3). They were imitators of the Lord while they received the Word of God in much affliction (1:6). They possessed the joy of the Holy Spirit (1:6). They were examples to all believers; then and now (1:7). They turned from idols to serve the living and true God (1:9). They gave evidence of walking in a manner worthy of God, who called them into His own kingdom and glory (2:12).

If that was not enough, Paul, Silas and Timothy were constantly thankful to God for them, as today’s text explains. Why? It was because, as previously stated, they received the Word of God. To receive (παραλαβόντες; paralabontes) means to actively welcome and accept. To receive may refer to welcoming an individual with friendliness. In this context, it refers to the Thessalonians friendly acceptance of God’s Word when they heard it from these three missionaries.

The Thessalonians did not receive and welcome the message of the Gospel (Acts 17:1-9) as coming merely from these men. Rather, they received it as it truly is; the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). At the same time, God’s divine truth was not just objective reality outside of them. It was also objective truth working within their souls. This was, and is, accomplished by the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 55:11; Acts 20:32; Phil. 2:12-13; 2 Tim. 2:15-17; Heb. 4:12).

“Paul’s message from God is equated with the OT (Mark 7:13). It was the message taught by the apostles (Acts 4:31; 6:2). Peter preached it to the Gentiles (Acts 11:1). It was the word Paul preached on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:5, 7, 44, 48–49), his second (Acts 16:32; 17:13; 18:11), and his third (Acts 19:10). Cf. Col. 1:25. which is at work. The work of God’s word includes: saving (Rom. 10:17; 1 Pet. 1:23); teaching and training (2 Tim. 3:16–17); guiding (Ps. 119:105); counseling (Ps. 119:24); reviving (Ps. 119:154); restoring (Ps. 19:7); warning and rewarding (Ps. 19:11); nourishing (1 Pet. 2:2); judging (Heb. 4:12); sanctifying (John 17:17); freeing (John 8:31–32); enriching (Col. 3:16); protecting (Ps. 119:11); strengthening (Ps. 119:28); making wise (Ps. 119:97–100); rejoicing the heart (Ps. 19:8); and prospering (Josh. 1:8–9). All this is summarized in Ps. 19:7–9,” states Dr. John MacArthur.

The 5^th century church theologian Augustine of Hippo explains Paul thanked the Lord for the Thessalonians’ reception of the gospel because it was the Lord who enabled it: “God . . . is the one who brought it about that the Thessalonians, when they had received from the apostle the word by hearing it, received it not as the word of men but, as it truly is, as the word of God.”

“This word of God “is at work in you believers” (1 Thess. 2:13). Many commentators point out the Greek verb translated here as “work” (energe ) is used elsewhere in the New Testament almost exclusively for God’s working. Paul uses it specifically in 1 Corinthians 12:4–11 for the Holy Spirit’s empowerment of spiritual gifts in the people of God,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

“We see, therefore, a close connection with the power of God and the word of God in today’s passage, which emphasizes that the Lord works in believers primarily through His word and Spirit. In context, this word refers primarily to the gospel but can be extended to cover the Old Testament and the entire Apostolic tradition, or the New Testament. Putting this all together, we see that the Lord achieves His purposes in His people chiefly by using the Word of God—the Scriptures—to regenerate us, correct us, and build us up in the faith. Moreover, He works through His Word continually over the course of a believer’s life, for God is presently “at work in you believers” (1 Thess. 2:13).”

The Westminster Shorter Catechism states, “The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching, of the word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation.”

“The word of God at work in the Thessalonians (1 Thess. 2:13) was the message Paul preached to them. This indicates a close connection between the Spirit of God and the preaching of the Word of God. It is vital for us to sit regularly under the faithful preaching of God’s Word by appointed elders, pastors, and teachers because that is where the Lord regularly chooses to do His work,” concludes Dr. Sproul.

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹¹ For you know how, like a father with his children, ¹² we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” (1 Thessalonians 2:11–12 (ESV)

Paul, Silas and Timothy previously compared themselves to a nursing mother when describing their relationship with the Thessalonian Church (I Thess. 2:7-8). They then compared themselves to a father with his children. What do the Scriptures say about fathers? Here is but a brief sampling.

Psalm 103:13 (ESV)– “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.”

Proverbs 4:20–27 (ESV) – “²⁰  My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. ²¹ Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. ²² For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. ²³ Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. ²⁴ Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. ²⁵ Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. ²⁶ Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. ²⁷ Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”  

Proverbs 17:21(ESV) – “He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.”

Proverbs 23:24 (ESV) – “The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.”

Ephesians 6:4 (ESV) – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Hebrews 12:7–11 (ESV) – ^7 “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. ⁹ Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. ¹¹ For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

Paul listed three characteristics of godly natural and spiritual fathers. They exhort, encourage and charge their children. What did the apostle mean?

To exhort (παρακαλοῦντες; parakalountes) is a present, active participle. It means to urge and implore. The word admonish is used in some translations to carry the idea of corrective instruction and challenge.  

To encourage (παραμυθούμενοι; paramythoumenoi) is a present, middle participle. It also to comfort and console. This characteristic of a father is necessary when children are hurting: either physically, mentally or emotionally.

To charge (μαρτυρόμενοι; martyromenoi) is a present, middle participle. It means to call to witness, and to solemnly affirm.

The pronoun “you” after each participle is repetitive. It is not a superfluous repetition but emphasizes the missionary’s ministry to both the collective congregation along with individual believers.

“They had admonished them so they would act freely, encouraged them so that they would act gladly, and testified so that they would act reverently,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.

“They had dealt with each one of them, having done individual pastoral work among them. They had also dealt with all of them as a group, addressing them collectively, teaching them, explaining the Word of God to them, and exhorting them to accept it by faith and to live in accordance with it. They had figured the immaturity of these people, and had loved them dearly. Both of these ideas, immaturity and love, are implied in the term children.”

Paul, Silas and Timothy did all these things so the Thessalonian believers in Christ would live in a manner worthy of the Lord. This thought from in the New Testament parallels the Old Testament psalmist’s thoughts in Psalm One. The principle of Scripture interpreting Scripture applies.

This worthy walk is due to God’s sovereign call, or invitation, into the kingdom of God. It is because of this sovereign, gracious and efficacious call that believers in Christ are to give God all the glory.

“Exhorted . . . encouraged . . . charged. Paul used these three words to describe his fatherly relationship with the Thessalonians since they were his children in the faith. They emphasized the personal touch of a loving father (cf. 1 Cor. 4:14–15). his own kingdom and glory. This speaks of the sphere of eternal salvation (cf. Col. 1:13–14) culminating in the splendor of heaven,” explains Dr, John MacArthur.

“Paul clearly refers to moral instruction— “a manner worthy of God.” God’s Word commands parents, particularly fathers, to make sure that children learn the Scriptures, especially its eternally valid moral principles (Deut. 6:6–7; Prov. 1:8–9; Eph. 6:4),” states Dr. R.C. Sproul.

“Second, given that Paul ministered in Thessalonica for only three weeks or so, this moral teaching was delivered at roughly the same time as or immediately after his preaching the gospel (Acts 17:1–4). Moral instruction could not be delayed but had to take place right away, which shows that the Christian ethic is inseparable from the Christian gospel. Lose one, and the other will disappear as well.”

“Third, Paul indicates that living the Christian ethic is “worthy of God” (1 Thess. 2:12). Essentially, the Apostle means that believers must live in such a way that it can rightly be said of them that they belong to God. In other words, our conduct must reflect the character of God Himself,” concludes Dr. Sproul.

How may we accomplish this worthy walk? It is a cooperative effort between each believer in Christ and God the Holy Spirit. ^12 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure,” (Philippians 2:12–13 ESV).

As we seek to pursue a holy life, let us remember God is working in us; not only to desire holiness but also to pursue it for the Lord’s honor, glory and praise. May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!