1 Thess. 2:13; Psalm 110, Introduction (3)

·        Maturity.  There was, it would appear, a rather sudden maturity on the part of this church.  It was seen in their faithfulness under persecution (1 Th. 3:6-8).  It was seen in the way they exhibited the marks of maturity for churches (1 Th. 1:3).  It was seen in the way they became a leading church in the region, setting an example for others (1 Th. 1:6-8).  How did this happen?  You can point to their election by God, of course (1 Th. 1:4; 2 Th. 2:13).  But note also the way they received the ministry of the word from Paul: they received it as the God (1 Th. 2:13).  And we should also note that there is power bound up in the true Gospel, which was the gospel Paul preached, the gospel of the death and resurrection (Ac. 17:3), the gospel which leads people to confess Christ as Lord (Ac. 17:7).


We have noted that Paul, in coming to Thessalonica, reasoned in the Synagogue.  Let us take some time to illustrate this for our own edification and ministry.

a)    Proposition #1: I have good news for you.  The Messiah has come.  Many oppose this but some would be willing to discuss.  For those willing to discuss we might continue thus …

i)      It is difficult to be the Messiah; there are a lot of requirements, things that must be true of a person that would be Israel’s King.  This could entail study in any number of Messianic prophesies and passages in the Old Testament.

ii)   If there is interest the response would then be to ask, “who is this Messiah.”

b)    Proposition #2: The Messiah is Jesus of Nazareth.

i)      This would lead to a demonstration of how He met/meets the qualifications.  He is of the seed of Abraham (Gen. 12), Tribe of Judah (Gen. 46), Son of David (2 Sam. 7), born in Bethlehem (Micah 5), and so forth.

ii)   We then might ask: ”Did you ever wonder how the Messiah, according to the Rabbi’s, was supposed to …

(1)King AND High Priest (Zech. 3; Psalm 110)?

(2)Reign in glory AND suffer (Isa. 9:6-7; 53)?

(3)Be David’s Son AND David’s Lord (Psalm 110)?

(4)Be Immanuel, “God with us” (Isa. 7:14)?

iii)            The point is: Jesus is all of this!

c)    Proposition #3: Salvation comes to those who put their confidence in Him as the Messiah, the Savior.  Our confidence must not be in ourselves and our ability to fulfill the law or some other moral standard.  The Apostles testify that this Jesus, after living a holy life, died on a cross to pay for our redemption and proved this by being raised from the dead.  The Apostles saw Him alive after they knew He was dead.  Will you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?

What a wonderful gospel we have to share with others?  It is reasonable and there will be some who will receive this good news at the Spirit works in their hearts.