The Believers Believed the Saints from charles e. whisnan t on Vimeo.
One of my shortest sermons in history. The singing took the wind out of me, I guess. I believe the message stopped at 23 minutes. But that is okay. I had more to say on the subject but next time I will finish the message.
1A THE RECEPTION THAT THE CHURCH MADE OF THE WORD OF GOD
2A THEY HAD A LOVE FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THE SAINTS
HOW DOES THE WORD OF GOD (ITS PRINCIPLES) WORK IN US WITH POWER IN THE BELIEVER
SAVED US 1 PETER 1:23, James 1:18
BLESSES US Luke 11:28
TEACHES US 2 Tim 3:16
REPROVES US 2 Tim 3:16
CORRECTS US 2 Tim 3:16
TRAINS US IN RIGHTESOUSNESS
PERFECTS US & EQUIPS US Eph. 4:12
GUIDES US Psa. 119:105
COUNSELS US Psa. 119:24
REVIVES US Psa. 119:154
MAKES US FRUITFUL Col 1:6
GROWS US UP 1 Peter 2:2
WARNS US Psa. 19:11
REWARDS US Psa. 19:11
JUDGES US Heb. 4:12
SANCTIFIES US John 17:17
PURGES US John 15:3
FREES US John 8:31-32
ENRICHES US Col. 3:16
STRENGTHENS US Psa. 119:128
MAKES US WISE Psa. 119:97-100
PROSPERS US Psa. 1:3
GIVES US HOPE Psa. 119:147
PAUL WAS GLAD BECAUSE FIRST: THEIR RECEPTION OF THE WORD OF GOD INTO THEIR LIVES 1 THESS 2:13
PAUL WAS GLAD BECAUSE SECONDLY: THEY HONORED THE SAINTS: 1 THESS 2:14
“For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for you also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews.:”
followers -- Greek, "imitators." Divine working is most of all seen and felt in affliction.
in Judea -- The churches of Judea were naturally the patterns to other churches, as having been the first founded, and that on the very scene of Christ's own ministry. Reference to them is specially appropriate here, as the Thessalonians, with Paul and Silas, had experienced from Jews in their city persecutions Act 17:5-9 similar to those which "the churches in Judea" experienced from Jews in that country.
in Christ Jesus -- not merely "in God"; for the synagogues of the Jews (one of which the Thessalonians were familiar with, Acts 17:1 were also in God. But the Christian churches alone were not only in God, as the Jews in contrast to the Thessalonian idolaters were, but also in Christ, which the Jews were not.
of your own countrymen -- including primarily the Jews settled at Thessalonica, from whom the persecution originated, and also the Gentiles there, instigated by the Jews; thus, "fellow countrymen" (the Greek term, according to Herodian, implies, not the enduring relation of fellow citizenship, but sameness of country for the time being), including naturalized Jews and native Thessalonians, stand in contrast to the pure "Jews" in Judea Matt 10:36. It is an undesigned coincidence, that Paul at this time was suffering persecutions of the Jews at Corinth, whence he writes Acts 18:5,6,12; naturally his letter would the more vividly dwell on Jewish bitterness against Christians.
even as they --Heb 10:32-34. There was a likeness in respect to the nation from which both suffered, namely, Jews, and those their own countrymen; in the cause for which, and in the evils which, they suffered, and also in the steadfast manner in which they suffered them. Such sameness of fruits, afflictions, and experimental characteristics of believers, in all places and at all times, is a subsidiary evidence of the truth of the Gospel.
—Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
They were "imitators”. “followers”. Vs 14
Ø Paul mentioned other believers in other churches as to what they were doing. You could pattern your life after them. They honored the saints by patterning their lives after them. They copied the Saints. They tried to be like those in those churches.
Ø THE MARK OF REGENERATION?
o They had a longing in their heart to be like Christ, to be like the preacher who gave them the gospel, a longing to be like other maturing saints.
o
Of the churches of god which in Judea are in Christ Jesus.” Vs 14
Ø Local assemblies. Acts 20:28, I Corin 1:2, 10:32, 11:22, Gal. 1:13.
Ø A general term for church. Eph 1:22-23. A church “in Christ Jesus.”
Ø In Judea, Jerusalem, the birth place of the NT church. 7 years before.
o Their spiritual address: IN JESUS CHRIST.
o Their physical address: IN JUDEA.
