CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 3:8.

 

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 3:8.

The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me) as a disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament.

First, we will be confronted with various situations and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Today we, as Christians, are confronted with questions about how we should deal with matters such as:

“For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 3:8.

IN CONTEXT

1 Thessalonians 1:1, From Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

Verse 4. For even when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it happened, as you know. Verse 5. For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be for nothing.

Verse 6. But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, verse 7, for this reason, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; verse 8, for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.

Verse 9. For what thanks can we give to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God, verse 10, as we keep praying most earnestly night and day that we may see your faces, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?

Verse 11. Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you; verse 12, and may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; verse 13, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

“For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 3:8.

(MY COMMENTS)

We read and hear that the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. And the second commandment is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

How much more should we show our love to those who have come to Christ in faith? Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, having labored to bring the church in Thessalonica the Good News, are filled with an overflowing joy at the news that in their absence and through persecution and tribulation, that they have kept the faith and have been found blameless in holiness before God.

Paul goes on to say “and may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you”.

This should be our aim and focus. This should be a focus of our prayers and a source of our joy, for one another and for all people who would come to faith in God through Jesus our Christ.

Jesus warns that in these Last Days the love of many will wax cold. Let’s guard our hearts, souls and minds and maintain our love for one another, as from the beginning.

We are told that the one who loves his brother and sister remains in the Light, and there is nothing in him to cause stumbling.

Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. If we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God must also love his brother and sister.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed”. – 1 Timothy 4:6.

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