1 Thessalonians 2
1 Thessalonians 2:10-12
10) Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
11) As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
12) That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
Are you walking worthy of God? You may think you are doing okay, but the standard for how we live our lives is God. The truth it that none of us are worthy. No-one is good enough to make the grade, but God is slowly changing us to be more like him as time goes on, through the power of the word in our lives. So a different question, when people see you, and observe how you live your life are you living in the manner they would expect? The phrase you least want to hear from non-Christian friends is, “Why are you doing that? I thought you were a Christian.” It is not only God that has high expectations, the world also has an expectation of that is worthy of God and what is not. Ask yourself if you measure up?
The second part of this is, how do you behave toward other believers? Could you in all honesty walk up to any brother in Christ and say, “You know how Godly I have been.” It sounds a bit prideful to say it like that, but Paul’s point is that knowing how he acted, we should act the same towards each other. When was the last time you exhorted someone? That means to encourage them to action, to spur them on, motivate them. As a pastor I can tell you motivating people is really difficult, yet we are told to do it. Do you comfort others, helping them through suffering? And do you charge people, that is, do you delegate to them passing on a task from God? The desired result is multiplied action. That is when we will also see growth.
1 Thessalonians 1
1 Thessalonians 1:6-8
6) And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
7) So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
8) For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
Are you an example? Talking to a friend at work once, they were describing their recent holiday, extolling the virtues of Italian culture. They said, “of course, I don’t need to tell you how good it is.” Why tell someone who had lived in Italy, is married to an Italian, speaks Italian etc. that they really should go there? When Paul says that the Thessalonians were examples to those around this was no surprise, in fact he too says, “well, I’m not telling you anything you don’t know.” When others speak of your walk with God, is this how they think of you?
The truth is that in “every place our faith to God-ward is” UNKNOWN. If you are like me then your friends know you are a Christian. Maybe your work colleagues also know. Most people in the area probably don’t even know you exist, so let’s take the concept wider. Do the people of Bermondsey know of the faith of our church to the degree that Paul is speaking of? Sadly this too is not the case, if they even know of us. If we are serious about Christ then we should get out there and make sure that the whole area around where we worship together knows that if they need prayer, if they want anything of God, then this is where to come to. In the same way as everyone knows to go to Iceland for frozen food. We get that right, and we have fulfilled the command of scripture. Go and be an example to everyone you meet, of how to follow God.
Galatians 6
Galatians 6:1-5
1) Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2) Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3) For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4) But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5) For every man shall bear his own burden.
As is often in scripture there are two sides to the coin of love one another. One one hand we must help each other, restore those who stray, bear the burdens of those who are struggling. On the other hand We must avoid pride, help ourselves by doing what needs to be done for us, and bear our own burdens. This is not a contradiction.
If you have a problem, do not expect others to fix it for you. If you are following God’s will in this area you will be doing everything you can to bear that burden. When God gives you the strength to get through the trial you can rejoice that you have made it through.
If you see a brother in Christ struggling then help. Do not jump in all, “I am perfect and you need help”, but remember your past struggles also. Our duty is not to shame our brothers (and sisters), but to comfort them and bear the burden together. We are nothing on our own, but together we are the body of Christ. As the famous show would put it - phone a friend, go fifty-fifty (with them), but don’t ask the audience, this is to the glory of God not us.
Galatians 5
Galatians 5:13-16
13) For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15) But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Sometimes you wonder, when reading the bible, if you accidentally picked up a bad vampire novel. Since when do we go around biting and devouring each other! Fortunately Paul is encouraging us in our attitude toward each other. How often are you tempted to take a verbal bite out of a friend? If we start on that road then it all becomes one vicious circle with everyone trying to undermine and destroy the reputation and lives of each other. This is not of God, it is how the world works. We are instead called to love and serve one another.
In salvation we are freed from sin, we are freed from the law, and we are freed from judgement for our sins, though not the consequences of our actions. Sadly, many believers use that freedom to sin more. Paul says elsewhere, “Shall I sin more so that grace may abound? God forbid!” We are freed so that we can serve God, and each other. We are freed to be able to love one another.
What are you practically doing to serve and love your brothers in Christ? What are you doing to love your neighbour as yourself? Do you even know what their needs are? Talk to them, pray for them and act.
Galatians 4
Galatians 4:4-7
4) But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5) To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Here in England there are two ways in which you can become primary carer for someone who is not your own child. You can foster, or you can adopt. If you foster it is usually on a temporary basis, though it can be longer term, even permanent. However the child concerned only has to obey your authority. They have no rights to inherit from you, or act on the same legal footing as your actual children. If you adopt then in the eyes of the law it is as if you had given birth to that child.
When the only way to God was by the law, as it was before Christ came, this was a fostering situation in many ways. Anyone wishing to be part of that had to become a proselyte Jew. Obey God, be part of the family, but that is as far as it goes. Christ came and changed it all. Suddenly anyone could come to him and be adopted. It is as if we were born of him. In fact Jesus described it as being “born again” of the Spirit. We really are children of God now.
Another side to that is that no believer can say, I am the way I am because I was born that way, because of my upbringing etc. Since you came to know God you are born anew. The way you were born now is holy, a son of God.
Galatians 3
Galatians 3:22-25
22) But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23) But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24) Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25) But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
The eternal dichotomy is presented to us again today. You cannot gain salvation by works. You cannot maintain salvation by works. In fact, if you attempt a life of works you are doomed to be judged and fail by those same works. We must live by faith, serve in faith, and keep the faith. Yet at the same time, faith without works is dead. Our works give evidence to our faith!
To put it in simple terms. We all learn to read in school. Some read faster than others, some learn from their parents before going to school. However, we all had to be taught how to read. We needed a teacher. As you get older you can read for yourself, and no-longer require a teacher. Does that mean you no longer need to read? Some go on through life not reading much at all, and their lives suffer as a result. You have to read just to get through the day, from road signs to food labels.
It is the same with Christ. The law of works is a teacher to reveal sin and bring us to salvation. having learned we have to continue in the good works we have learned, not ditch them because school has finished. Use the law to learn to live by faith, then do it. You are now free to do all the great stuff God has prepared you to do, not free to sin as you wish. Let’s get focused.
Galatians 2
Galatians 2:11-14
11) But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12) For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13) And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14) But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
Have you ever done something daft that has results in others following your stupidity? The classic trick is to glance at a corner of the room as if there is something there and try to get everyone looking to see what it is. It is surprising how many fall for it. Whenever you are in a position of authority, whether by job position, seniority, or just leading a group of people in a given task they will look up to you and copy you, just as Barnabas copied Peter. Your non-believing friends likewise will look to you as a measure of what is morally right, even when they refuse to believe.
So we have two areas to focus on. Firstly, what are you doing that may lead others astray? It may be culturally correct, even politically correct, but if it is not right according to the bible then you should not be doing it. Secondly, in what ways are you blindly copying others? Have you checked their actions against scripture? Did you read the passages from the sermon on Sunday to check the preaching? Have you read the whole chapter today to check this?
