FIRST THESSALONIANS 2:14

The Bible says in First Thessalonians 2:14, “For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews.” In this statement the Apostle Paul is making a commendation of the church in Thessalonica. Evidently there could be no higher praise to give to any church than to compare them to the church in Judea. What made the church in Judea so honorable? The things that they suffered is what made them honorable. It is an honor to suffer for Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

The Holy Spirit wanted to make it clear that “the Jews” were the source of the great persecutions that Paul was writing about. The true believers in Jesus suffered “of the Jews.” This phrase “the Jews” does not mean all Jewish people, but it does refer to the Jewish leaders in the first century. They are the ones who stirred up trouble against those who preached the gospel of Christ. Concerning the Jewish leaders, Paul wrote in First Thessalonians 2:15, “Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men.”

Sometimes there are debates over who was responsible for the death of Christ from a human standpoint. The Holy Spirit in First Thessalonians 2:15 said that it was the Jewish leaders of the first century. Of course, others had their part. The Roman leaders went along with the killing of Christ for political purposes. The crowds of Jewish people shouted out, “Crucify Him, crucify Him,” driven along by mob-rule. The disciples ran away in fear. Groups that represented the entire human race had a part in causing the death of Christ. That stands to reason since Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. But from a human standpoint Jesus was killed because the Jewish leaders conspired and pushed for His death. Because they did not repent of their sins, they had to pay for their sins both in this life and in the next. God wants to forgive and to save every human being no matter how great their sins have been. But those who have hardened their hearts and refused God’s mercy must face God’s justice.

It is interesting to notice in First Thessalonians 2:15 that the Jewish leaders who opposed the gospel of Christ are said to be “contrary to all men.” That is because the gospel is the message of salvation for all men. Whoever opposes the gospel opposes that good thing that needs to happen to all men: the hearing of the gospel. If someone is against good happening to you, then they are against you. If someone is against the good message of the gospel of Christ going out to the whole world, then they are against the whole world.

The Apostle Paul wrote in First Thessalonians 2:16 that the Jewish leaders were “forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.” This verse shows that there will be at least two good results of speaking the gospel to the Gentiles: some will be saved, and those who are saved will see that their sins will be “filled up” always. “To fill up” means to fully satisfy. The holy demands of a righteous God against sin are fully satisfied once a person is saved through faith in Christ. All it takes for that to happen is to hear the gospel, and then to believe it. Notice that it says: “to fill up their sins always.” Once you are saved, you are “always” saved. Christ does not take back His salvation. His salvation is so complete that it starts on the day that a person comes to know Him, and it never ends from that point on.

In contrast to those who become saved, there are those who oppose the preaching of the gospel. In the first century it was the Jewish leaders who opposed the preaching of the gospel of Christ. In other centuries it was other groups who have opposed the preaching of the gospel. Sometimes it was those who claimed to be Christians who opposed the preaching. Many have forgotten that Jesus said in Mark 9:40, “For he that is not against us is on our part.” He also said in John 10:16, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” If you oppose those who are in a different fold from yours, then you are opposing the gospel. Be careful whom you oppose. Concerning those who oppose the preaching of the gospel, it says in First Thessalonians 2:16 that “the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.”

Paul wrote in First Thessalonians 2:17, “But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.” The reason for the effectiveness and influence of the apostle Paul is shown once again: his great love for the people for whom he ministered. Even when he was separated from them, he did not stop thinking of them and attempting to get back with them once again. Of course, the people that you really love are the ones that you want to be with. Paul wanted to be with the Christians because he loved them for Christ’s sake.

Concerning his desire to be with these Christians, Paul wrote in First Thessalonians 2:18, “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again, but Satan hindered us.” First we notice that Paul tried to come to them “once and again.” Paul did not give up easily. If something is worth doing, then it is worth trying more than once. If at first you do not succeed; then try, try again. I wonder what some of us could have accomplished, if we had not given up so easily.

When we try to do something for God, there will be opposition. This opposition will come from human beings who are against the gospel of Christ, and it will also come from the evil one. Paul said that “Satan hindered us.” The word “Satan” means adversary. He is God’s adversary, although ultimately in vain; and Satan is also the adversary of every person who would serve Christ. It is comforting to know that if we would resist the devil, then he will flee from us to find easier prey. Perhaps one way in which we resist the devil is to not give up trying, even when he puts obstacles in our way. Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me.” If we do not give up, then in God’s time the hindrance will be removed and the door will be opened.

Paul described how much he valued the believers in the city of Thessalonica when he wrote in First Thessalonians 2:19-20, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.” The Apostle Paul said that these believers were four things for him: his hope, his joy, his crown of rejoicing, and his glory. Twice he said that they were his joy. These words not only describe Paul’s emotions, they also describe his attitude as he looked toward the future. The word “hope” is a forward-looking word. You have hope when you are looking forward to something, and this word “hope” in the Bible is a strong and positive word about something that is definitely going to happen.

Paul looked forward to the judgment at the appearing of Christ, and Paul knew that one of the most important things for Christians will be how many people each of us have touched. How many people will each of us have reached with the Gospel? How many will we have helped to strengthen in the faith? How many will we have encouraged to walk closer with Christ? It will be a sad day should any of us stand before Jesus emptied-handed. Some day all of our possessions will be gone. All that will remain at the appearing of Christ will be the lives that we have touched.

There will be a great reward for those who have built up others in the faith. Paul said that these believers were his “crown of rejoicing…in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming.” A crown is a reward. A crown speaks of authority and power. Evidently there will be various levels of authority and power given out by Christ in heaven. There will be a lot more involved in the eternal state than just who goes to heaven and who goes to hell. Those in hell will suffer for their sins. Therefore, the more that they sin, the more that they will suffer. Those in heaven will enjoy the rewards of their good works. Therefore, the more good works that someone does, the more that he will enjoy heaven. Paul’s good work was to be an important part of the lives of these Christians, and Paul knew that in heaven they would be his “crown of rejoicing.”

Paul wrote in First Thessalonians 3:1-2, “Wherefore, when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; and sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlaborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith.” We noticed earlier that Paul did not give up even though he was hindered by Satan. When Paul himself could not go to see the Thessalonians, Paul sent Timothy in his place. The important thing was seeing a successful accomplishment of the task. The important thing was helping the Thessalonians, but it was not so important who did the work. Paul called Timothy his “brother” and his “fellowlaborer.”

Paul said that he sent Timothy to do two things: “to establish you” and “to comfort you concerning your faith.” To establish means to set firm. It is very important to become a strong Christian. When a person is first saved, he is a babe in Christ. He then needs to grow. If Christians do not grow after becoming saved, then they will remain spiritually immature as described in First Corinthians 3:1, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.” Paul knew that. He wanted to do what he could by teaching them the scriptures so that the believers in Thessalonica would grow in Christ and be strong.

Whoever does not stand firm in the faith will fall in the face of the fierce spiritual attacks that will come against every Christian. There is a relationship between being strong and having a strong faith. The Christian life is a life of faith. “The just shall live by faith.” If you are strong in faith and if you are living by faith, then you believe on a moment by moment basis in the central truths of a living Lord. If you are living by faith, then you are believing that Jesus is present with you. He said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” If you are living by faith, then you know that Jesus is all-powerful and that you can do anything by relying on His power. Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Paul wrote by the Holy Spirit, “I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.” If you are living by faith, then even when bad things happen you know that there will be a good result to them because you know that God is in control and that He loves you. The Bible says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose.”

Paul not only wanted to lead people to Christ, but he also wanted to do everything that he could; by what he taught and by his example to help them to become established in the faith. There are many people in the world involved in religion from the standpoint of human effort, but there are very few who live by faith in Christ the Lord. Turn to Christ and feed upon His Word, and be one of the few who live by faith in Him.

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