IT is clear that the coming of the Lord for His saints is the proper hope of the Church. When about to leave this earth and return to His Father, our blessed Lord said to His disciples, “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself” (John 14:33And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3)).
Turned to God. — This waiting attitude characterized the young Thessalonian converts from the very start of their Christian career. Their conversion was a deep reality, they were “turned to God from idols,” and this we may say is descriptive of all real conversion, wherever and whenever found.
Conversion does not consist in the mere holding of views, or assenting to certain truths; it is a complete and radical change brought about by the mighty power of the Holy Ghost in the soul of the one who believes the testimony God renders to His Son in the gospel. That gospel declares that “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)); it declares that Jesus, our Lord, “was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification”. (Rom. 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)); it declares that the guilty sinner who believes this testimony concerning the Lord Jesus Christ is justified by faith, and so has peace with God, and rejoices in hope of the glory of God (Rom. 5:1, 21Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1‑2)); it declares that Christ has “once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18)).
Believing this gospel, then, the soul is not only saved, justified, and forgiven, but brought to God. Thus it was with the Thessalonians, they “turned to God from idols.” It does not say that they turned from idols to God, but “to God from idols.” The difference to some may appear small, but in fact the whole principle of the gospel is involved.
There are many who imagine that salvation can only be obtained by a life of self-abnegation; this is the principle of the law, and on that principle “shall no flesh be justified in His sight” (Rom. 3:2020Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)). The gospel is on the principle of free and sovereign grace; it comes to us because we are not only guilty but lost; it proclaims to us present and eternal forgiveness, present and eternal salvation; it bridges the awful distance that separates the sinner from a thrice holy God, and brings us into His presence at peace with Him; it enables us not only to rejoice in the sure and certain hope of coming glory, but also to joy in God Himself, here and now (Rom. 5:1111And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. (Romans 5:11))
The Thessalonians, then, were turned to God as worshippers. Before “the joyful news of free salvation came” to them they had bowed down to idols, but now “the living and true God” had displaced all else in their heart’s affection. Readers in professedly Christian lands may find it difficult to apply such words to themselves, but there need be no such difficulty. All that the hearts of the unconverted men, women, and children are set on that shuts God out are their idols.
To Serve the Living and True God. — But not only were they worshippers, they were workers. They were not only turned to God, but all their ransomed powers were laid at His feet in service — “to serve the living and true God.” The word here translated “serve” has the force of serving as a slave. Paul himself was such a slave (Rom. 1:11Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Romans 1:1)), a “captive in the chains of love”; James was another (James 1:11James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. (James 1:1)); Peter and Jude, and others, too, shared this honorable bondage. All these, no doubt, were servants of a very special character, but every truly converted soul is “saved to serve.”
Let none suppose that because they do not possess the gift of evangelist in any striking degree, that therefore they need not do the work of an evangelist. We firmly believe that every truly converted soul is responsible to lead others to the Saviour. If one may speak for others, we confess to a lamentable lack of energy, and to a culpable neglect of precious opportunities in bringing the gospel before those with whom we meet day by day. True, wisdom and discretion are most needful, but let us not shield ourselves under the poor excuses so often heard―
“It is not my gift,” or “It is not our testimony.”
There is a disposition amongst some to speak disparagingly of the gospel as though it were some inferior thing in comparison with “the testimony of the Lord.” We believe this to be a fatal mistake, which leads to a narrowness of spirit utterly opposed to the true grace of God wherein we stand. We believe that 2 Tim. 1:88Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; (2 Timothy 1:8) clearly establishes that “the testimony of our Lord,” so far from being something different from, is identical with “the gospel,” whose afflictions Timothy was exhorted to partake of according to the power of God.
Let us not lower the gospel in our attempts to exalt some special part thereof, but let us carefully and prayerfully study the Scriptures to learn what the gospel is in all its blessed fullness. We would suggest to our young readers to study the epistles of Paul, and to carefully note every allusion therein made to the gospel, and then seek grace from God to have “fellowship in the gospel” (Phil. 1:55For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; (Philippians 1:5)), to walk “as it becometh the gospel” (1:27), and to strive “together for the faith of the gospel,” — but never to disparage the gospel.
It is our high and holy privilege to worship, to work, and to wait; and to be in spiritual health we cannot afford to minimize any of the three. Some there are who are full of work, and yet never know the privilege of assembling with the people of God for worship; others assemble most regularly for worship who seem never, if ever, to do anything for the furtherance of the work of the Lord. True worship and divine service will both be strengthened and increased by waiting with intelligence and affection for God’s Son from heaven — “even Jesus, our Deliverer from the wrath to come.”
Christian reader, are you a worshipper? Are you a worker? Are you waiting for His Son from heaven? A. H. B.