2 Thessalonians #01: an exposition of 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 18, 2012.
Intro:
When you think of “godliness” what images come to your mind? Do you think of certain styles of clothing? Certain behaviors? Certain speech patterns? Do you think in negative terms? “Godliness doesn’t do this or that?” I’m certain most people think of it in these terms. They think in terms of appearance, speech or behavior or by the avoidance of certain things. That is valid. Godliness or holiness certainly does manifest itself in these ways but not exclusively. However to reduce holiness to appearance or behavior is to trivialize it. It is to make it a surface level truth. Biblically, holiness goes much deeper. It goes to the core of who and what we are. To be fair I must also state that holiness is not who and what we are exclusively.
There are those who think that your behavior has no bearing on holiness. If your theology is sound and you think correctly it really doesn’t matter what you look like or what you do. That is another way in which we trivialize holiness. Biblical holiness has to do with who and what we are and how we look and act. It is both internal and external. Rather than one or the other it is “both and.” At its core holiness is “apartness.” It is about being distinctly different. We are called out from the world. We are to live in contrast to the world. That does not mean we have no connection with this world. It does not mean we must shun all that is found “in the world” but that we have a different perspective, are driven by a different agenda and hold to a different set of values.
When talking of holiness the starting point is not behavior. I can’t put on the screen “The List” for you to follow. Rather we need to understand holiness begins in the heart and mind and is the result of the work of the Spirit of God within us. When we are quickened, made alive by the Spirit of God everything changes. Our eyes are opened and we see differently. Our mind is freed and we think differently. Attitudes change. Appetites change. These inward changes then begin to affect our behavior. The old passes away and everything becomes new. We are a new creation, Paul says. And we are created to walk in new ways. This morning I want us to look at the opening verses of Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonian believers and see how godliness is expresses itself.
Text: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5
Paul and Silas spent 3 weeks ministering in the capital city of Macedonia.
After that 3 weeks a group of troublemakers ran them out of town.
They went down to Berea but the same rabble followed them.
Paul then made his way to Athens.
From Athens he sent Timothy to check on the young church in Thessalonica.
1 Thessalonians is his response to Timothy’s report.
Now a few weeks or months later he sends a second letter in response to another report.
It is clear from this letter that there were still questions about the Lord’s return.
It is also clear some false teachers are wrecking havoc in the church.
We also discover that the young church is the victim of intense persecution.
With that in mind let’s look at the opening verses…
Paul’s opening remarks demonstrate…
Thesis: Godliness expresses itself with joy, grace and perspective.
As we explore Paul’s comments we discover 3 ways in which godliness is expressed.
- Godliness rejoices when others progress in the faith. (1:3-4)
- Godliness understands perseverance is the result of grace. (1:4)
- Godliness rightly interprets all of life from a Divine perspective. (1:5)
Conclusion:
How is godliness expressed?
- We rejoice when others progress in the faith.
- We understand perseverance is the result of grace.
- We rightly interpret all of life from a Divine perspective.