Their spiritual growth was evident to all. Is ours?
Paul the apostle wrote the first letter to the Thessalonian church while he was in Corinth. According to Acts 17, Paul spent approximately three weeks with the fledgling church. After his success in depleting the ranks of the synagogue by exposing them to the light of the gospel of Christ, Paul reluctantly left Thessalonica and headed to a safer place. But Paul left a piece of himself there and longed to see the newborn saints grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus.
Paul’s love for the saints drove him to send Timothy to check on their spiritual progress. The epistle to the Thessalonians is Paul’s response to Timothy’s report to him. The letter bears witness to the progress of the Thessalonian believers. In the letter, Paul writes of the evidence of the progress of the church and the effect of its progress. Arguably, the letter also contains an explanation for the progress of the church in Thessalonica.
One unique attribute of this letter is that there is no corrective language. The letter is filled with thanksgiving, encouraging words, and exhortative comments, but not one word of correction! While it can be certain that the church was not perfect, it is noteworthy that Paul was so pleased with the progress of the church that his focus was on the encouragement he received from them and on exhorting them to “excel still more and more” (1 Thes. 4:1). This fact should inspire any serious follower of Christ Jesus to examine the progress of this church and compare it to his own.
Evidence of progress
The church’s progress began the moment the saints “heard the Word of God” from Paul and his traveling companions. Upon hearing that Word, they received it, and faith as well. More than that, they accepted it as truly the Word from God to be obeyed according to who God was, not merely the words of men (1 Thes. 2:13). This strong beginning is the foundation for the future growth of the church. Indeed, recognizing the Bible, all of it, as the very Word of God is a necessary ingredient for spiritual growth.
Their reception of the Word, even their reception of the Word as being from God, was not merely academic. The newly converted and taught saints did not sit around either the synagogue or their homes merely discussing the newly received truths, but in fact, they began to live it out. Individual spiritual growth and corporate progress require that the truth changes those who receive it. Too often lifestyles and customs affect the implementation of truth, rather than vice versa. It is worth remembering that Christianity is a life to be lived, not a theology to be debated. History proves that when the church is distracted with lofty theological arguments, true spiritual progress suffers. In contrast, when believers allow truth to change their lives, spiritual progress (even revival) follows.
Paul wrote that the church had “became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea” (1 Thes. 2:14). But they didn’t stop there. After imitating the churches of God, they then became “an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.” True progress is evident when the Lord begins to use believers as examples in the lives of others.
Effects of progress
As the Thessalonian church was growing and progressing in their relationship with the Lord, the effect of that growth began to spread far and wide. The church was praised for its relationship to God and to men. Their faith to God was as evident as their love towards mankind. The Holy Spirit inspired the following report about the saints in Thessalonica: “For the Word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth” (1 Thes. 1:8).
Paul also wrote, “now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia” (1 Thes. 4:9f). The Thessalonians’ testimony was so loud and so pervasive that Paul did not need to speak highly of them; they were already well-known and respected for their walk with the Lord Jesus. This is quite a challenge! Every local church, every believer, every ministry should ask itself, “Does our testimony speak as loudly as our marketing materials?”
In addition to having a good testimony, the lives of the believers at Thessalonica bore witness to true repentance and service to God. Furthermore, they lived with the return of Christ ever before them. Paul characterized them as awaiting, patiently awaiting, the return of the One whom they served. Living in the light of the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ is the result of a spiritually mature life.
One other effect of the Thessalonian church’s progress was that their current position was not satisfactory to themselves or to those that loved them. Twice Paul encouraged them to “excel still more” or to “abound still more.” Any believer that has progressed in his relationship with the Lord will undoubtedly recognize that there is still much work to be done.
Explanation for the progress
One might ask, “How is it that this new church held such a special place in Paul’s heart and, though young in age, progressed so quickly?” The answer seems clear. While Paul spent a mere three weeks teaching the saints, he did not teach them “light” subjects. No, indeed, Paul taught them deep truths. Paul mentions in chapter 1, verse 4, the concept of election, and in each chapter the truth of the Lord’s return is mentioned.
In three weeks, Paul taught the saints truths that we rarely hear taught in our assemblies today. On more than one occasion, we have heard reports of biblical truths being set aside for the sake of expediency or to please a growing crowd. How do truths get set aside? Very simply: They are no longer taught as truth and no longer received as the Word of God.
Instead of teaching dispensational truths and typology, we spend our time exhorting the saints to attend prayer meetings and to “not neglect to meet together.” Instead of delving into the riches of Romans (topics like justification, sanctification, glorification, etc.), the saints are chastised to dress modestly—some young men must be told not to wear flip flops and shorts to breaking of bread, and some sisters must be asked to wear more clothing! As in Christ’s day, we ought to be addressing the deeper matters without neglecting these others (Mt. 23:23).
Until the deep truths of the Word of God are taught and subsequently received as the Word of God, our local churches will stagnate. There will be no sounding forth the Word of the Lord. There will be no setting a good example to others. There will be no evidence of faith in God and love for all mankind unless the saints are well-taught and lives are subsequently changed by the reception of the Scriptures and submission to the truths contained therein.