03 I Thessalonians 1:6-10 Why We Give Thanks Part 2

November 17, 2025

Chris Freeman

Title: “Why We Give Thanks” Part 2 Text: 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10 FCF: We often struggle evaluating whether or not we are elect of God. Prop: God’s elect imitate Christ and provide an example to be imitated, we must be imitators worthy of imitation. Scripture Intro: CSB [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. In a moment we’ll begin reading in verse 1 from the Christian Standard Bible. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. Last week, we saw how Paul expressed his deepest thankfulness to God because he knows that the Thessalonians are elect of God by the way the gospel came to them. We discussed how disciple makers’ praise the Lord when disciples prove to be genuine. And some of the tests for genuine disciples include how the gospel comes and if the cardinal Christian graces of faith, love and hope are present in their lives. Today, Paul will give us the second reason that he and his companions know that the Thessalonians are elect of God. Which dovetails nicely with their display of the Cardinal Christian graces too. Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read. Invocation: Loving Father, You sent Your Son to be the pioneer of our faith. He ran the race before us. He looked to His reward, being elevated as the God-Man above every man that all men might declare that He is the Lord of glory. To receive His reward He faithfully endured the cross and despised the shame. But He has now finished this race and has sat down at Your right hand. And He has sent The Spirit to be an Advocate for us. Father, I pray that You will send the Spirit today so that we may find joy in the gospel of Jesus Christ and follow Him as our example to the result that we may be examples to others. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Transition: [Slide 2] Normally I’d give you two or three quotes from two or three Christian authors. But today – I could not believe how fitting all three of these quotes were by one man named Juan Carlos Ortiz. He was a Pastor in Argentina who died in 2021. He wrote a book on Discipleship and these quotes show he knew the subject well. “Discipleship is more than getting to know what the teacher knows. It is getting to be what he is.” “A disciple is a person who learns to live the life his teacher lives.” “The making of a disciple means the creating of a duplicate.” Today, we will see firsthand what it means to be and make a disciple. Let’s begin in verse 6. I.) God’s elect imitate Christ and provide an example to be imitated, so we must joyfully receive the word in spite of severe affliction. (6-7) a. [Slide 3] 6 - and you yourselves became imitators of us and of the Lord i. Paul begins a new sentence here. But because he begins with the word “and” we can connect it back to the original thought in verse 4. ii. He is still talking about the reason that he, Silas, and Timothy are constantly thanking the Lord for the Thessalonian church. iii. He has shared that they are thankful because they know that the Thessalonians are chosen of God. iv. The evangelists know this because of how the gospel came to them. v. But one other reason that Paul and his companions know they are elect of God, is that they became imitators of the evangelists and ultimately, of the Lord Jesus. vi. We’ve already seen hints of this when Paul says that they mention often in their prayers to God the Thessalonians display of the cardinal Christian graces. vii. But in what way have they become imitators? viii. Paul spells this out a little more clearly by telling us to what extent the Thessalonians became imitators of them. ix. This forms the two major points of this sermon. There were two ways the Thessalonians became imitators of the evangelists and the Lord. x. First… b. [Slide 4] when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit. i. Paul, Silas, and Timothy, and every other Christian, faces or will face similar opposition to receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ. ii. Christ invites us to take up our cross and follow Him. To deny ourselves. He also says that as they hated Him, they will hate us. The life of a disciple of Christ is full of persecution and opposition. iii. This is what makes professions of faith so much less reliable in our culture. iv. Many people express professions of faith without having to consider what it might cost them to do so. When you couple this with preaching that never encourages a turning from sin and never requires growth in Christlikeness – you have a perfect recipe for people who claim to be Christians but look nothing like Christ and know nothing about suffering severe persecution with joy. v. But for the Thessalonians and for most Christians down through the ages and even for most Christians today globally – receiving the message of Jesus Christ comes with an immediate cost. Relationships, social standing, business opportunities, political pressure, ostracizing, and even murder are all common outcomes of people converting to Jesus Christ. vi. But one way we can know that we are elect of God is that despite the hardship taken up by entering the narrow gate, when we welcome the gospel of Christ with joy from the Spirit, we can know we are God’s elect. vii. The effect of the gospel on the lives of the Thessalonians mirrored the effect the gospel had on the lives of the Evangelists. viii. They too are continuing to respond to God’s Word with joy in spite of persecution. ix. Not an artificial joy and not human happiness. Instead, it is a trust and contentment rooted in the promises God has revealed in His Word. x. Such a trust and contentment is only borne of the Spirit in our hearts. It is, after all, part of the fruit of the Spirit. xi. And in this way, welcoming the gospel while enduring persecution, they are imitators of the evangelists and even Christ before them. Who despised the shame yet endured the cross, so that He would run the race before us. xii. But the evangelists are not simply thanking God that these Thessalonians are imitating them… xiii. They are thanking God because of the result of their imitation… c. [Slide 5] 7 - As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. i. The result of the Thessalonians imitating the evangelists is that they have become worthy of imitation themselves. ii. [Slide 6] They are now examples throughout the two provinces that make up the Balkan Peninsula. Macedonia which is the upper part on the map and Achaia which is the lower part. iii. [Slide 7] The word example has the idea of setting a pattern, a model, or a mold that something can be hammered into to achieve the exact same result. iv. Imitation begets imitation. v. This is the core of discipleship. vi. Do you want to know what making disciples looks like… really? 1. It isn’t a 12 week study through a book called, “How to be a disciple of Christ.” 2. It isn’t a 52 week systematic theology study. 3. It isn’t going to seminary and getting a bible degree 4. It isn’t a 12 step program of behavioral training. 5. It isn’t a bunch of meetings in someone’s office over coffee, just shooting the breeze. vii. It is you, imitating Christ, getting others to imitate you, and getting your imitators to encourage others to imitate them. viii. Go and make copies of yourself. ix. In many ways the items I listed that aren’t making disciples… are much easier than what making disciples truly is. x. Why? xi. In order to make disciples, you must be a disciple that is being conformed to Christ. xii. So much so that you can say – in as much as I am like Jesus… imitate me. xiii. And let me tell you something, when you see others imitating you and causing others to imitate them as you imitate Christ… that confirms on your heart that they are elect of God and that is worthy of thanking the Lord. d. [Slide 8] Summary of the Point: Verses 6-10 operate like the second point of one sermon. This is why this is a part 2 sermon. Everything Paul has said in the first 5 verses contributes a good deal to the discussion here in the last half of the chapter. So, the evangelists are thankful for the Thessalonian church because they KNOW they are elect of God. The first reason being that the gospel came to them in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction. But the second reason they know they are elect of God occupies the remainder of the text and forms the primary point Paul is making in this sermon. And it is simply this… God’s elect imitate Christ and other spiritually mature believers and provide an example to be imitated. In this we find a chain of imitation. [Slide 9] Take a look at Hebrews 12:1-2. [Slide 10] Christ ran the race before us. He has finished the race and is the reward for us finishing as well. He is the pioneer and finisher of our faith. In some sense then, even if we are imitating those who are spiritually more mature than us, so long as they are running Christ’s path, we are imitating Christ. We also then are providing an example, a model, a pattern for those behind us to follow. So, what is one way that Paul references in this text that we can imitate Christ, other mature believers, and provide an example for others to follow? In order to imitate Christ, we can, and indeed we must endure affliction while being constantly guided in the gospel reality He lived for us, And to do so with joy from the Holy Spirit. We also see this in Hebrews. Christ ran the race already so that He might attain the joy that was set before Him, enduring the cross, despising the shame. To be like Christ, in joy, we must endure on this gospel road through many afflictions. Transition: [Slide 11(blank) In what other ways can we imitate Christ and other spiritually mature Christians and so provide an example for others to follow? II.) God’s elect imitate Christ and provide an example to be imitated, so we must zealously and accurately bear witness to the gospel. a. [Slide 12] 8 - For the word of the Lord rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out. i. They received the Word with such joy, in spite of the pain it caused them, that these Thessalonians could not and would not contain it in themselves. ii. They needed to share this gospel truth with everyone. iii. This doesn’t mean that the Thessalonians sent out a bunch of missionaries far and wide. iv. Instead, what Paul is referring to is that because of Thessalonica being such a hub for travel across the empire, that the Thessalonians zeal to share Christ with all who they could, led to the gospel going out from Thessalonica to places well beyond their reach. v. And they shared the gospel so zealously, and it spread so far that Paul says something next that is absolutely bonkers. b. [Slide 13] Therefore, we don’t need to say anything, i. The gospel went to these places so effectively through the Thessalonians, that Paul, Silas, and Timothy really had no need to ride in and correct, expand on, or generally add to anything they had shared. ii. Can you imagine Paul giving us a similar report? I’m sure if the apostle Paul heard my sermons, or heard my sermons through your testimony, that he would not have the same words for me. iii. But for these Thessalonians… Paul says – we don’t need to say anything more. iv. Why don’t they need to say anything else? c. [Slide 14] 9 - for they themselves report what kind of reception we had from you: i. As the evangelists interacted with people from various places, who had been in contact with the Thessalonian believers, they found something quite interesting. ii. They found that they had accurately reported exactly what happened while the evangelists were in Thessalonica. iii. Meaning the Thessalonians gave their testimony, and did so not just zealously, but accurately too. iv. So, what was their testimony? d. [Slide 15] how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God i. They had abandoned their former life and all that it included. ii. Abandoning paganism, is not simply changing religions. It is not simply adding Jesus to what you already believed. And it certainly isn’t a lateral move to get on a different side of the same mountain all leading to the same God. iii. For the Thessalonians to turn from their idolatry to the living and true God was to be rejected by their own culture. iv. Their friends, family, co-workers, neighbors – all of them, to various degrees, would be appalled by the Thessalonians rejection of worshipping in the temples, and not worshipping the Emperor. v. The Thessalonians bore witness to the fact that they had left their lives to follow Christ. They had forfeited everything they knew and took comfort in, to serve the one true and living God. vi. Although these idols may be real demonic entities with actual power… the Scriptures are very clear. Unlike Yahweh, they are neither true nor are they living. vii. So what does it mean that God is true and living? viii. [Slide 16] God being the true God works on a couple levels. 1. First, He is the only God. a. There is only One God, in the sense that there is no god equal to Him. b. He is in a category all His own. c. He is Holy. i. Holiness then, is God’s governing attribute. ii. He is unlike everything else. iii. He is unique. iv. He is different. d. All other gods are false in the sense that compared to Yahweh, they are far closer in class, kind, and characteristics to humans and other spiritual entities than they are to Yahweh. e. Despite God being Spirit and there being spiritual entities like angels and demons – angels and demons are closer in similarity to humans… than they are in similarity to Yahweh. f. This is why God is the only TRUE God. 2. Second, He is the only truthful God. a. All other gods, whether they be spirits, men, or make believe, are liars. b. First, pretending to be a god, is itself an act of deceit. For no entity is a god except for Yahweh – see point 1. c. Second, all men and fallen angels are sinful, selfish, and predisposed to lie. d. Satan is called a liar from the beginning. e. But Yahweh says of Himself – I cannot lie. f. It isn’t a question of volition or choice – it is a statement of inability. God cannot tell us something that is false. ix. [Slide 17] God being living also has two levels. 1. First, God is the only being who does not need any other being in order to exist. a. God is Self-Sufficient. He is independent. He needs nothing from His creation to exist. He needs nothing from His creation to function or be happy. b. God is the only being that exists that can continue to exist without other parts of creation. c. Without time, space, matter, light, warmth, energy – God exists. d. God eternally exists in three persons and thus has communion and fellowship with Himself. Therefore, God doesn’t even need His creation for worship or fellowship or completion of some relational need. e. God is the only being… in this sense… that is living. 2. Second, all other gods, men, fallen angels, or make believe, will burn up. a. In the second death, all those who do not worship Yahweh and believe on His Christ will be cast into the second death. b. They will all die in eternal death together. c. In this sense then, all other would-be gods are dead gods. d. And therefore, they cannot grant life. x. [Slide 18] And so, the Thessalonians bore witness to the fact that they have completely rejected their dead and false gods to pursue the living and true God. xi. But that’s not all they bore witness to… e. [Slide 19] 10 - and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead— Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. i. Part of the gospel witness is not just repentance, but it is also faith. ii. Faith to believe what God has said. iii. Faith to believe on Jesus as the deliverer. iv. Throughout the whole area people were hearing how the Thessalonians were believing on and hoping in a God-Man who died and was raised from the dead and is coming again to rescue them and all who believe in Him from the coming judgment. v. Paul, when speaking to gentiles, regularly spoke of the coming judgment of the one true and living God. vi. No such judgment exists in paganism. There is no final judgment where Zeus or Jupiter sit in judgment to determine the eternal consequences of each person. vii. But Yahweh had been telling His people about the Day of the Lord almost 800 years before Christ. viii. And a final judgment had been spoken of for even longer than that. ix. The fact that there is a coming day of God’s wrath is expressed in the promise of God to Noah that he will not judge the earth again… with water. x. God’s wrath has been spoken of for thousands of years – and like the ark was for Noah and his family, so Jesus is to His people. xi. The only true Ark is Christ. xii. He is the only hope to escape the wrath to come. He is the Savior. He is the rescuer. He is the Deliverer. xiii. And they waited. One thing that is abundantly true and emphasized in the hall of faith chapter of Hebrews 11, is that God’s people have always been people who wait. xiv. God’s people had been waiting on the seed that would crush the head of the serpent since Adam and Eve fell. God’s people waited some 4000 years for that promise to come to pass. xv. But now God’s people have been promised that the Son of David, the Son of Man, will come again riding on the clouds from heaven to consummate an eternal kingdom and destroy all His opposition. xvi. And God’s people have been waiting for this to come to pass for nearly 2000 years. xvii. God’s people have always been and continue to be a people… who wait. In hope and faith that God will keep His word. xviii. This was the Thessalonians’ testimony. xix. And it was known far and wide. xx. And the evangelists are so thankful that this is so, because it confirms that they are elect of God. f. [Slide 19] Summary of the Point: Paul does not raise up any further points about how they know that these Thessalonians are elect. In fact, it is fairly clear here that this discussion continues the thought from verse 6. Therefore, we should see that Paul is expressing another way that they have become imitators of Christ and examples for others which proves they are God’s elect. So, what is that way and what does it mean for us? They have become shining Christian examples both in their zealousness for sharing the gospel and their precision for relaying the truth accurately. So, in order to imitate Christ and those who are more spiritually mature and in order to provide an example for other believers to follow, we must zealously and accurately bear witness to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Conclusion: So, CBC, what basics have we learned today that corrects and informs our faith and shapes and guides our practices? Basics of Faith and Practice: [Slide 20] We have learned that one other way we can be assured that we are God’s elect is by imitating Christ and other spiritually mature believers to the extent that we provide an example for others to follow. What are some ways that we can do this? Paul specifically references two ways that the Thessalonians were imitators worthy of imitating. First, they welcomed the message of God with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of many afflictions. We too should receive or welcome the message of the gospel with joy from the Holy Spirit – knowing full well that we will suffer many afflictions for the cause of Christ. Secondly, the Thessalonians are commended for zealously and accurately bearing witness to their reception of the gospel. So, in order to imitate Christ and provide an example for others, we too must zealously and accurately bear witness to our reception of the gospel. These are actually quite complex applications with many moving parts, so let us try to break them down into small chunks this morning. 1.) [Slide 21] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that at the core of being a disciple and making disciples, is imitation. a. What is key in this text that I think is quite different than most people think about discipleship, is that discipleship is primarily imitation. b. Many people attack Paul’s words here and in other books where he says something to the effect of, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” c. The assumption is that this is said in a pious way indicating Paul thought he was Christlike. d. But my friends, if you are living as Christ lived, there is nothing arrogant about saying that you are worthy of imitation. And Paul isn’t saying – live like me even when I don’t live like Christ. e. There is a reason that the scriptures talk about the church being the body of Christ. It is because the church should be the embodiment of who Christ was on earth. We should accurately reflect the words He spoke and the actions He did. f. Indeed, this is exactly how the scriptures teach us to make disciples – it is by baptizing them and teaching them to observe all Christ commanded. Not in the sense of mere education but by demonstration. g. For whatever reason we have been duped to believe that discipleship only happens in an educational setting, much like school. We hear the word “teaching” and immediately picture sitting in chairs with a desk and looking at a teacher who goes over certain things that you must agree with. When you graduate you get a little certificate and voila, you are a disciple now. h. This is, of course, ridiculous. i. Being a disciple and making disciples is and ALWAYS HAS BEEN primarily… imitation. j. Watch me do this. Now do it with me. Now you do it while I watch. Now you do it and tell me how it went. Now you do it and take this person with you and let them observe you. k. That… in a nutshell is discipleship. And I’m convinced, it is at the heart of the expression, “do life together.” l. I think sometimes when we hear “do life together” it means we enter some kind of compound or closed society where we only interact with each other in common ways. But I think when we say “do life together.” Primarily this means a more hands on approach to making disciples. m. So rather than leaning into some quasi-educational definition of discipleship – we should instead affirm that being a disciple is all about imitating Christ and doing that by finding someone who is godly and imitating them as they imitate Christ. n. And making disciples should be seen the same way. We are not sitting someone down to teach them systematic theology, we aren’t getting through a book course, or even having them go through a bible study with us – although that is certainly part of making disciples. o. Making disciples ultimately boils down to… Imitate me. Live like I live. Follow me. p. But this doesn’t actually make it easier does it? q. Taking someone through a 12 week course is a lot easier than saying imitate me as I go toward Christ. r. Why? s. Because 1 of them ends in 12 weeks and you check a box and it is done. t. The other is a lifelong commitment. u. My friends, it would be best for us to see discipleship in this way. Imitation = discipleship. v. And because of that… 2.) [Slide 22] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” We must imitate Christ and other spiritually mature believers and be an example for others to imitate as well. a. The easiest way to do this if you are a parent… is to do this for your children. b. Model for them what it means to be people of the Word. How to respond in a Christlike way to trials, tribulations, difficulties, and temptations. What to give priority to and how to pray and study the scriptures. c. But this relationship is not exclusive to a parent and their child. d. Younger believers should seek out older and more mature believers to mimic. Older believers should seek out younger and more immature believers to be an example to. And generally speaking, the church as a whole should be a group of people all following Christ by following the person in front of them. e. We have both made this simpler than it is and more complicated than it is. f. Humans have a nasty habit of doing that don’t they? g. We’ve made it simpler in the sense that we’ve reduced discipleship to pure education and we’ve made it more complicated than it is in that we assume that we must be perfect in order to begin discipling someone. h. Neither of these are true. i. Let’s do a little exercise this morning. It may crumble and not demonstrate what I think it will – but let’s take a chance. j. Raise your hands if someone, in your lifetime, has ever walked up to you and asked you if you would disciple them? k. For those of you who did raise your hands – did you experience the sinking feeling of not even knowing what that means or where to begin? Hmmmm… Hang on to that for a second. l. Ok. Raise your hands if someone has ever walked up to you and asked you if they could disciple you? m. As I suspected. Almost no hands. n. Now. Raise your hands if you can honestly say that you are at the maturity level you are at in your walk with Christ because you have observed and endeavored to imitate someone who you know is a godly Christian. o. [[I think this will illustrate that formal discipleship is rare but actual discipleship is common. If that is the case… proceed]] p. You see that? What can we deduce from this? I think we can deduce that we are really bad at formally discipling people… but by God’s grace… we are still succeeding in actually discipling people. q. So what is the application? r. Live like Christ, imitate those you know are godly and invite people to observe and imitate your life. Live in such a way that your life is an open book and that people can ask or see anything they want of you… to the extent that you are ALWAYS teaching how to be like Jesus. s. I really think it is that simple… and also that difficult. 3.) [Slide 23] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that following Christ is costly. a. By far this is the hardest sell for Christians living in the west. b. It is abundantly difficult to convince Christians who drive to church every Sunday without fear, who openly display Christian paraphernalia on their person and on their vehicles, who do not face losing their jobs or being kicked out of their families for following Jesus, it is so difficult to convince American Christians that to follow Christ is costly. c. But I think the reason we saw a bunch of people start attending church after Charlie Kirk was murdered, was because for at least a moment… people started to feel that it could actually cost them something to follow Jesus. d. And it scared them. Scared them enough to attend… for a couple weeks. e. But as the dust settled and as people moved on, and as the country, almost unanimously denounced the act… people returned to their lives thinking that maybe – just maybe – it isn’t quite time to panic yet. f. My friends – Christianity is by far the most persecuted religion in the world. Not 1000 years ago. Not 100 years ago. TODAY. g. And honestly the writing is on the wall for this country too. It is coming. h. We can do our best to stall it through legislation and political activity and indeed we should. i. But it won’t be long before we are drastically outnumbered in our worldview. It won’t be long before political and legal action won’t help us because we won’t have the votes. j. You say, Chris how do you know that? k. Scripture predicts it, history proves it, and culture demands it. l. In reality, following Christ always costs us something. We always suffer affliction against the devil and his angels. We always face opposition from the world, its principalities, and powers. m. In a way, following Christ is always costly. But to the vast majority of Christians through the ages – it has cost them so very much. n. And soon, it will cost us much too. o. So what hope is there? 4.) [Slide 24] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” The gospel itself and the joy from the Spirit is our comfort despite many afflictions. a. Did you ever wonder why Jesus called the Spirit, The Comforter? b. The word is often translated, Advocate. c. An advocate pleads our cause, provides encouragement and help, and gives counsel. d. The Spirit of God indwells and continues to work in the hearts of believers delivering grace for help in times of need. e. And the gospel, the message of Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and future return to save us from the wrath to come, that is the greatest comfort and produces the greatest joy. f. Remember our sermon chorus? It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus. Life’s trials will seem so small, when we see Christ. One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrows will erase. So, bravely run the race, till we see Christ. g. I love that because it is a little 3-point sermon. i. When we see Jesus’ face, three things will happen. ii. Truth point – all the pain and sorrow in life will have been worth enduring. iii. Truth point – All the trials we face will seem insignificant. iv. Truth point – All the sorrows we’ve experienced will be erased forever. v. So, what do we do with those three points of truth? vi. Application – Bravely run the race until we see Christ. h. My friends, the joy set before Christ was to save His bride, to redeem a people for Himself. For that joy he endured the cross and despised the shame. i. The joy set before us… is to join Him where He is, and so shall we ever be with Him. j. The gospel is the vehicle to that joy. We are placed in Christ as we travel this road. k. When the gospel gets even more costly and when life’s difficulties weigh us down – look to Jesus the pioneer and completer of our faith. l. Look to your joy. And realize that it is joy given by the Spirit of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ. m. But until then – what else must we do to be imitators of Christ? 5.) [Slide 25] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” We must zealously and accurately share the gospel. a. The Thessalonians’ story was known far and wide. b. People heard about the time that the evangelists spent with them. They also heard about how the Thessalonians bravely cast aside their former lives and believed on the living and true God and His Son. c. People heard about how they were hoping in His return to rescue them from the coming wrath of God. d. My friends – have people heard a similar report about our church? Have people heard a similar report about you? e. If not, perhaps this is so for one of two reasons. f. The first is that perhaps you have failed to imitate spiritually mature people and Christ and have not zealously and accurately relayed the gospel to others. g. Perhaps you have grown weak and fearful and allowed petty fears of men to keep you from sharing the gospel with others. h. Perhaps you have shrunk back and blended in, trying to appear to be like everyone else. i. My friends – if you are elect of God, you will never fit in. Not here. This world with devils filled threatens to undo us. And you want to make it your home? You want to slip into some quiet corner and go unnoticed. j. We have the right man on our side. A man of God’s own choosing. Who is it? Christ Jesus It is He. And He will win the battle. k. Friends – when the victory horn rings, you do not continue to hide in a corner. You come out and celebrate and gain confidence over the forces that still oppose – for they oppose in vain. l. Jesus has won. The victory bell rolled when the stone was rolled away. m. Get out of your hiding place. It is not time to hide. It is time to stand. n. Bear witness to the glorious gospel that saved you and can save others. Announce it to all you meet. Share with them how Christ caused you to cast aside your sins and follow Him in faith. Share with them how you were wicked and He has made you righteous. Share with them how God has done this and no one else. o. But there is a second reason that perhaps you have failed to zealously and accurately share the gospel… p. Perhaps you don’t have a story to tell. 6.) [Slide 26] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” The gospel always requires a turning from sin and former masters and to the living and true God and His Son whom He raised as our deliverer from future wrath. a. Some have wondered if Paul’s last statement in this chapter is some kind of creed, confession, or song. b. The reason people wonder this, is because it is such a concentrated description of what the gospel is and does. c. These Thessalonians bore witness that because of a Jewish man who died in Judea 20 years before… d. They were giving up their ancestral beliefs, turning on their family and friends, rejecting the state religion, forfeiting their business relationships and ostracizing themselves from their own culture. e. Why would they do that? f. Because the man who died in Judea was no mere man. He was God and man. All other gods, religions, and even forms of Christianity that do not include a rejection of sin and pursuit of Christ alone, must be cast aside. g. Full and complete devotion to the true and living God must occur. h. Belief in the death, burial, resurrection and future coming of Jesus as this God-Man is required. i. And all hope placed in Him and Him alone to save you from the judgment which He Himself will bring is… necessary. j. Maybe you’ve never heard the gospel. Maybe you’ve heard it a thousand times but today… the loop closed. You see it now. He has died for you. He has won. k. Maybe you’ve thought you’ve been a follower of this Jesus – but your story of the gospel coming to you doesn’t include anything like this. l. My friends – I implore you. Come to Jesus. Turn from everything else. Come to Jesus and live. [Slide 27] Let me close with a prayer by the Reformer Elisabeth Cruciger a former Nun who began writing hymns of the Reformation. Lord Christ, God's only dear Son, you have sprung from the Father's heart from eternity, as we see in the Scriptures. Morning star, you gleam brighter than all stars in the sky. You were born of a pure virgin in the fullness of time. Your death has opened for us the gates of heaven and restored life to us. Lord Christ, let us adore you in love, increasing in the knowledge of you. Despite our earthly weakness, let us serve you in spirit and never cease in faith, that our hearts may taste your sweetness, and ever thirst for you. You who founded the whole world, and who, in your unbounded power and fatherly might reign over day and night—let our hearts pursue you and let us turn our minds to you, lest we stray. Lord, kill us with your goodness. Make us alive in your grace. While we still live on this earth, take away our old nature, and replace it with new life. And may our every thought, desire, and feeling cleave to you. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Benediction: Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, Let Him shield them all day long, Let the one the Lord loves rest between His shoulders. That you might be steadfast, immovable and knowing That your toil in the Lord is not in vain. Until we meet again, go in peace.