No doubt most of you in reading these two Epistles have observed their singular charm. There is a peculiar freshness, warmth, and simplicity in these letters of the apostle Paul which we do not find elsewhere in the same degree, and the reason is not far to seek. These Epistles to the Thessalonians were addressed to very young believers. I would not say positively, but I think the First Epistle was written only about three months after their conversion. Paul's short stay in Thessalonica (only three Sabbaths are mentioned in the brief account in The Acts) had been brought to an abrupt conclusion by fierce persecution. So these Thessalonians were left, after such a little while, in the midst of fiery trial, not fully instructed in the faith, and exposed not only to the wiles of the devil but to his open power— “going about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” It was therefore necessary that these epistles should be written for their instruction and comfort. The Second followed at no long interval after the First.
In both epistles much is said of the coming again of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the fourth chapter of the First Epistle we have the most remarkable statement concerning it in the whole of Scripture, and in each of the five short chapters of which the Epistle is composed, Christ's coming again is mentioned at least once. Some would think this too high truth for such young believers, but it is not so. Depend upon it, the Spirit of God is wiser than we are. The Thessalonians knew that they were beloved of God, they knew their election, that they had been in God's thoughts from eternity, and so they were waiting for His Son from heaven.
Now let us come to the 13th verse of our second chapter. There was matter for special thanksgiving—the beautiful simplicity in them and in their manner of receiving what was brought to them by God's servant. The apostle was conscious of bringing them nothing but the word of God—that was his one object. In this same chapter he speaks of being willing to impart “not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls.” Here came a man among them who brought the word of God to them.
We should bear in mind that all scripture is written by the infallible guidance of the Holy Ghost, even to the very words. He not only supplied the truths to be imparted, but the words with which they were to be clothed. The more closely we look into God's word, the more we realize that the most appropriate expression has been used on every occasion. The more closely we investigate, the more satisfied are we that it is the word of God.
In his introduction to the Epistle to the Galatians the same apostle tells us that he did not receive the gospel from man, not even from a fellow apostle, but from the Lord Himself (chap. 1:11, 12). No human instrumentality was used even for its communication. It was a revelation direct from the Lord, and it is communicated in all the purity in which he received it.
I often think of an inscription on an old fountain in Aberdeen—
“As heaven gives me, so give I thee.”
The apostle might have said something like that. As the Lord gave the gospel to me, so give I it to thee. Ought we not to value it then?
There was a readiness on the part of the Thessalonians to receive God's word as such. This is the cause of much thanksgiving on the part of the apostle. They took it into their knowledge and intelligence, took it into their heart as an invaluable treasure. “Thy word have I hid in my heart.” That is the right place for it; it is safe there. We have need to be on our guard; the fowls of the air spoken of in The Parable of the Sower are figures of actual evil spirits hovering around us, seeking to rob us of the treasure which we have received.
How have we received the things communicated herein? I went once to see a man who was ill, and I quoted something from Paul. He said, “Oh, that is only Paul!” He evidently thought that only the words of the Lord were of weight and authority. If we have any thought like that it is time we were on our knees confessing our sin before God. I grant you that there is a special fullness and depth in the actual words of the Lord, a fullness which perhaps we may not find in any other part of scripture; but all bears the same stamp of divine authority, for, let us recollect, one Divine Person is the Author of the whole, though the writers may be many. The Old Testament and the New form one grand whole, and we must receive them as such. We could not do without a single portion. The Lord Jesus when here accredited the whole of the Old Testament, which was then just as it is now, the same books, the same contents, and the same general division into The Law, The Prophets, and The Psalms—all as from God. “Scripture” is a word which the Holy Ghost has appropriated to Himself. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto every good work.” Where will you find another book to do that for you?
In the memorable walk to Emmaus, the Lord, “beginning at Moses and all the prophets, expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” What was the effect on the two hearers? “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened unto us the scriptures?” He opened to them the scriptures, and then their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, if you remember. Observe the connection of things. He opened the scriptures (all the scriptures, mind you; scripture has weight from the beginning), but that was not sufficient; their understanding needed opening. The natural man has not spiritual discernment; he may have all wisdom concerning this world, and yet be utterly in the dark as far as any right understanding of the scriptures is concerned. Was it not so with all of ourselves until we were born again and received the Spirit? In the case of Nicodemus, the Lord had to rebuke him: “Art thou the teacher of Israel and knowest not these things?” Here was a man in a high place in Israel and yet he knew not the A B C of Christianity nor even of divine life.
But with the Thessalonians there was this great thing to thank God for—that they received the word of God not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God.
We should question ourselves as to how far we treat this book as the word of God. We know on the authority of the Lord that the Old Testament is inspired, but the New is inspired equally with the Old. We have this said especially of Paul's epistles (2 Peter 3:15, 16). If God speaks, what is becoming to us? Surely reverence, attention and faith. Abraham fell on his face when God spoke to him. He believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness. How beautifully simple. And it was not written for his sake alone, but for ours also.
In Deut. 33 we read that at Sinai the people sat at God's feet. “Every one shall receive of thy words.” This is the right way. It reminds us of one in the New Testament who sat at His feet and heard His word.
The effectual working of God's word is in them that believe. Even when the Lord from heaven spoke, there were those that refused to believe. There is no promise to unbelief in the whole word from beginning to end. There are threatenings, but all the promises are to belief. Only those are blessed in hearing the word that believe it. It little matters how instructed we may be in the word unless the heart receives and believes it, and it is submitted to and welcomed to its rightful place in the soul. The apostle says, he is “not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” —but what to him that believeth not? Belief opens the door at once into all manner of blessing. You might have heard the word many times before without being in the least touched by it, but you remember the time when light entered in and the word wrought effectually, filling with terror at first, and then the same word led you to trust Him. In my own case, over fifty years ago, one word of God brought light after months of despair —that was, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That one word “whosoever” wrought effectually in my heart, and led me to Christ.
All scripture leads to Him, as it is said that all roads lead to London. Christ is God's great center. He is “the way, the truth, and the life.” It is by Him that you have been brought to God; and how has it been since? By the guiding of His Spirit and His word has He not brought you on your way until now? The word that imparted life has been the means of sustaining that life (1 Peter 2:2). The word brings down life from God; that life must return to its source in love, faith, and adoration.
These dear people had been worshipping ugly, inanimate idols, and they turned from them to serve the living and true God. What came afterward? “Ye were ensamples to all them that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad.”
All this came of receiving the word of God. Having found this treasure they had to share it with others. Why, you cannot have a monopoly of God's word! If you impart something of the truth of God to a soul you retain it yourself as well; you are not impoverished thereby. “The word of God grew and multiplied.”
Oh, that there was the same zeal now to sound out the word of God! It is the only means of building up; it helps, strengthens and comforts saints. Where there is any real work now it is just through these two mighty provisions of God—the Spirit as the power, and the word as the instrument. Very well, let us pray that it may so work in us.
We cannot dwell on it now, but there is just one thing I should like to say about it. We read in 1 Peter 5, “The God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, himself shall perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” That is His purpose—we shall be perfected. He is going to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. And how is the work going on now? “By the washing of water by the word.” We have the figure of it in John 13 in the feet washing.
Let us then go on meditating on the word and giving it its controlling place, and He will sanctify and cleanse us by it, changing us from glory to glory.
“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”
R. K.