The
First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians - Chapter
2:2-7, 10-12
2
But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully
entreated at Philippi, (as ye know) we were bold in our God, to speak
unto you the Gospel of God, with much striving. 3 For our exhortation
was not by deceit, nor by uncleanness, nor by guile.1
4 But as we were allowed of God, that the Gospel should be committed
unto us, so we speak, not as they that please men, but God, which
approveth our hearts: 5 Neither yet did we ever use flattering words,
as ye know, nor colored covetousness, God is record. 6 Neither sought
we praise of men, neither of you, nor of others, when we might have
been chargeable, as the Apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle
among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.
10
Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and
unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe. 11 As ye
know how that we exhorted you, and comforted, and besought every one
of you, (as a father his children.) 12 That ye would walk worthy of
God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
Study
notes
For
the ministry of the Gospel, which is here meant, consists of
doctrines full of comfort to distressed minds, such as free
justification by the righteousness of Christ, full pardon by his
blood, and complete satisfaction by his sacrifice; as well as of
exhortations to the exercise of grace and discharge of duty. It was
not of deceit, or "error", and was not "fallacious",
as the Ethiopic version renders it; it consisted of nothing but
truth, it was the word of truth, and the truth as it is in Jesus; nor
did it proceed from any intention to deceive and impose on persons.
It
did not spring from any impure affection for any sin, for popular
applause, or worldly interest; nor did the ministers of it connive at
uncleanness in others, or practice it themselves, as did the false
teachers; but bore their testimony against it, both by word and
example, and taught no doctrine that encouraged to it; but, on the
contrary, the doctrine which is according to godliness, and which
teaches men to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. Likewise there was
no deceitful design in the ministry of the word, nor anything impure
and immoral in the matter of it; so there was no artifice used in the
dispensing of it; it was plain and simple, without any colour and
guile, without the hidden things of dishonesty, without craftiness
and handling the word deceitfully; and this is a reason why the
apostles preached it with so much freedom and boldness, because there
was nothing false, impure, or artful in it.
The
only requirement on your part is to be as He is, n imitation of him;
not of his perfections, which are inimitable, but of his works; and
these not of his power and wisdom, but those of kindness and
beneficence, and of righteousness and holiness; and in conformity to
his revealed will, which is good, perfect, and acceptable; and
agreeably to his Gospel, that that may be adorned, and not
blasphemed; and particularly, in a manner worthy of the calling
wherewith saints are called by him. Note also that the instance of
the grace of God carries in it many arguments, and lays many
obligations on the persons interested in it, to walk in their lives
and conversations worthy of God; which may be taken from the nature
of this call, which is not a mere external one by the outward
ministry of the word, but an internal and effectual one, by the
powerful and efficacious grace of God; it is a call of persons out of
darkness into light, and therefore it becomes them to walk as
children of the light, and honestly, as in the daytime; and from a
state of bondage to sin and Satan, unto liberty, and therefore ought
not to walk after the dictates of corrupt nature, nor the suggestions
of Satan, but after the Spirit of God, who is a spirit of liberty;
and from fellowship with the world, and the men of it, to communion
with Christ, and therefore should not walk as other Gentiles do, nor
run with them in the same excess of riot; in short, such are called
with an holy calling, and to holiness, and have in their effectual
calling principles of holiness implanted in them, and therefore
should be holy in all manner of conversation: moreover, arguments may
be taken from the consideration of him that calls, God, who is a holy
Being, and therefore as he that hath called them is holy, so should
they be likewise; he is the God of all grace that has called them,
and he has called them by his grace, and to special blessings of
grace, and that according to his sovereign will and pleasure; and has
called them the most unworthy, base, mean, and despicable, and not
others, which greatly enhances the obligation to walk worthy of him:
to which add, that he that calls is God that dwells on high in
heaven, and changes not, and such is his call; hence it is styled the
high calling of God, and the heavenly calling, and said to be without
repentance; and therefore the saints should live and walk as pilgrims
and strangers here, and be steadfast and immovable, always abounding
in the work of the Lord: likewise the consideration of what they are
called to should engage them to a becoming walk, being called "to
his kingdom"; to the kingdom of grace, which lies in
righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, and which cannot
be moved, and where they are kings and priests unto God; and unto a
Gospel church state, and to all the privileges and immunities of it;
and unto the kingdom of heaven, prepared by God for them from the
foundation of the world, their Father's free gift to them, of which
they are born heirs apparent in regeneration, and have both a
meetness for it, and a right unto it; and therefore ought to behave
suitable to this high honour and dignity which belong unto them: and
this latter sense is the rather to be chose, since it follows, "and
glory": or "to his glory", as the Syriac, Arabic, and
Ethiopic versions read; to the glory of God, to the beholding of the
glory of God through Christ, and the glory of Christ himself; and to
a participation of that glory which God has provided, and is in the
hands of Christ for them, where it is hid, who when he shall appear,
they will appear with him in glory; which will be both upon their
souls and bodies; and this will be an eternal glory, a glory that
fades not away, and not like the glory of this world, which is
transient, and soon passes away, but this will abide for ever; and
therefore since the saints are called to the obtaining of this, it is
a reason why their conversation should be in heaven now, and as
becomes God and his Gospel.
1
The beauty of the Gospel of Christ lies in it’s simplicity. The
message being, “I have come to redeem you, and return you to the
Father. Accept My sacrifice as the price for your redemption,
confess me as Saviour and receive the saving grace as given unto you
by the father.” See
1 Peter 2:21-23; Isaiah 53:9; 1 John 3:5
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