LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

HILLTOP LAKES CHAPEL

MARCH 12, 2025

I Thessalonians 2:13-20

13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard

from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at

work in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that

are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,

15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all

mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill

up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!

17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we

endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come

to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of

boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

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[vv 1-12, Paul recounts and defends the apostles’ ministry in Thessalonica]

v 13 – “And we also thank God constantly for this…”

more lit. “that having taken the word of God by your hearing from us…”

An important point. The apostles reasoned from the OT Scriptures, but the gospel, while

fulfilling the law, was new. And there was no NT.

taken – paralambanó, to “take with,” or “take alongside”

more lit. “you received, not [as] the word of men, but according to what it truly is: the word of

God”

received – dechomai, to receive with a sense of welcome (looked at previously) –

“receive a guest,” “receive a compliment”

“the word of God…”

The word of God is what God has expressed and revealed

Jesus is the ultimate and living Word of God

The Scriptures point us to Christ and to life in Christ. It is Christ that we worship. And it is our

life in him, and God’s glory, that is the point of it all.

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is

they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have

life.”—John 5:39-40

The message of the Bible is God’s word—But the actual words themselves that convey that

message may change from era to era and obviously from language to language.

Sometimes we have to try out different words in order to accurately convey the message

However, even though there are limitations of human language, the Bible is a book like no other

book—words like no other words:

It is inspired by God and uniquely blessed by God to accomplish his work in our lives.

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to

you are spirit and life.”—John 6:63

2

“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal

life.’ ”—John 6:68

“But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out,

and said, ‘Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this

Life.’ ”—Acts 5:19-20

Many, many more Scripture passages could be cited.

It is our sword for spiritual warfare.

AND…

more lit. “which also works in you who are believing.”

“word of God” is the subject, “works” is the verb, “in you who are believing” is the object of the

verb

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the

division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and

intentions of the heart.”—Hebrews 4:12

“… Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having

cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to

himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and

without blemish.—Ephesians 5:25-27

many more examples …

vv 14-16 - “For you, brothers, became imitators…”

Paul draws a parallel between the church in Thessalonica (mostly Greeks, probably) and the

churches that were the original ones in Judea (all Christ-following Jews)—how, in each case,

there is persecution from “your own countrymen”—by which, in Judea, he meant the Jews

who did not believe (not the Romans).

“who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets…”

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How

often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her

wings, and you were not willing!—Matthew 23:37 (Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem)

“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and

Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”—Acts 2:36 (Peter’s sermon at Pentecost)

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, if we are

being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this

man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the

name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by

him this man is standing before you well.’ ”—Acts 4:8-10 (Peter and John before the

Council)

It was no secret that influential Jewish leadership intentionally planned and incited the events

that resulted in the crucifixion of Christ—and indeed, they continued to persecute the church

in the days to follow—something with which Paul was very familiar.

“drove us out” – persecution in Jerusalem, causing the Christian dispersion

“displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might

be saved” – something that occurred on Paul’s journey’s in and from the synagogues where he often

began his preaching in a community.

“but wrath has come upon them at last!”

3

“at last” – eis telos, more lit. “into the utmost,” “into the finish”

God’s judgment has been pronounced

It should go without saying, but perhaps it is good to say, that this judgment which both Jesus and the

Scriptures pronounced against the shepherds of Israel—those who should have been the first to welcome

Jesus but who bitterly rejected him—this judgment is not a basis for anti-Semitism. Those who oppose

and reject Christ and the work of his Spirit are under God’s judgment, whoever they are, then and now,

Jew and Gentile. The particular scandal in Jesus day with the oppositional Jewish leadership was that

Jesus was the stone that the very builders rejected. The very persons—laity and priestly—who claimed

to speak for Yahweh were those who rejected the Messiah himself, the Son of Yahweh. Paul’s desire

wherever he preached was for all people to come to Christ—Jew and Gentile—“God making his appeal

through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). And that is

our desire as well.

vv 17-20 – But since we were torn away…”

“we endeavored … with great desire … we wanted to come to you … I, Paul, again and again…”

but Satan hindered us.

We don’t know the specifics … but there is an important principle here

Even the apostles were hindered by Satan in their plans and intentions.

Perhaps through circumstances that were beyond their control, perhaps through the opposition of

others … but they were aware that there was spiritual warfare going on—and even that Satan

had some temporary success

What did they do? Whatever they could! They kept faithful in prayer and used the opportunities

that they had—while not giving up on ongoing plans and intentions. They did not cave in to

discouragement.