The midland journal., 1946-11-15

A great city, commercially active,
religious to high degree, a military
center and harbor so fine that it
is important to this day-such was
the city of Thessalonica. 1t presented
challenge to the preachers of the
gospel and, in the name of Christ,
Paul accepted and won a great vic
tory.
In the face of persecution, bitter
and persistent, the believers in this
city remained faithful. The reason
for that appears in our lesson. Root
ed and grounded in Christ, they
had brought forth the fruit Of real
Christian living under circumstances
which were difficult and trying. Our
lesson tells of both the preaching
Of the gospel by Paul and the living
of the gospel by the Thessalonians.
I. The Gospel Preached-Accept-
ed and Rejected (Acts 17:1-O.
Paul began his long and success
full ministry in Thessalonica in
the synagogue. It was to the Jews
who worshiped the one true God
that he came with his message
about their expected Messiah -
Christ the Lord. Here he estab-
ished strong church.
What was the message which so
signally succeeded in this great
strategic center? Well, it was not
Gas some modern preachers in
large cities seem to think nee
essary) a series of social, politi-
cal, or literary discourses. Paul
preached Christ. He reasoned with
them and presented the Saviour ".
81 as One who was
l. Dead for our sin. These people
were like us in that they needed
solution for their sin problem.
Without the death of Christ there
is no salvation for any man. Only
through the shedding of blood can
there be remission of sin (Heb.
9:22). Paul had no part in the folly
Of a "bloodless gospel" = as though
there were any such gospel.
2. Raised for our justification. It
was not enough that Jesus died,
marvellous as that is in our sight.
For many a man has died for his
convictions, but none has risen
from the dead. Christ could not
be holden of the grave. He arose
the victorious Redeemer.
3. Declared to be the Christ. He
Is more than man, more than a
great leader and an earnest teach
er. He is Gods anointed One, HIM
self divine-and our Lord.
Some believed ". A., including
many devout Greeks, and not few
Of the leading women. The gospel
does have life-giving power as the
Holy Spirit applies it to the hearts
Of willing men and women.
Others opposed wv. S, 81. Note
that they were "of the baser sort."'
They always are, even when they
appear to be cultivated and edu-
Gated, for there is something funda-
mentally wrong in a life which re-
jects Christ.
II was a serious charge they
made qgainst the Christians ". y,
tor 1t was treason punishable by
death to have any other king but
Caesar If one lived In q Roman
colony.
But the thing which they hated
worst in these Christians was the
fact that their topsy-turvy world
was In danger Of being set right
(they put it the opposite way, ". g.,
and they did not want to be made
right. It is interesting to note that
these early preachers had divine
power to turn over the social order.
|. Would that we showed more Of that
power in the church todayl
Accepting the truth is good, but
It must 60 on in daily living. The
Thessalonians knew that and they
are models of
III. The Gospel Lived - Followers
and Examples Il Thess. 1929.
Paul, the missionary, was a cour-
teous preacher. He recognized the
faithfulness of Christian brethren
and did not hesitate to commend
them. We could do more of that
when we meet true and faithful be-
levers.
They were followers of Paul, but
only because he followed Christ ".
81. His power was from above ".
81, even as they also were chosen
from above ". A..
Following Christ meant aff1iction
to them ". 81, but it also meant
the Joy of the Holy Spirit, which is
entirely independent Of the circum.
stances of life-and above them.
These Thessalonian believers
were examples of what it meant
to be Christians. Wherever Paul
went their faith toward God was rec
ognized and he did not need to ex-
plain or argue for his gospel. Peo-
pie knew the Thessalonian Chris
tians, and thus they knew real
Christianity.
There could be no finer witness
to the faith of anyone than to be
able To bear testimony that il is