6 ¶ But now when Timotheus came from you unto us,
and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good
remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: 7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over
you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: 8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the
Lord. 9 For what thanks can we render to
God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our
God; 10 Night and day praying
exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is
lacking in your faith?
Notice how Paul is pleased with news of the Thessalonians
continued faith and charity, which I have explained before is the love that
Christians are supposed to feel for each other which is actively expressed by
our ministering to each other’s needs.
Charity is not simply giving money, food, and material goods
to others. It is the perfection of brotherly love.
2 Peter 1:5 ¶ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to
your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience
godliness;7 And to godliness brotherly
kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
1Corinthians, chapter 13, is not merely about giving to the
poor which is evident from this verse.
1Corinthians 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the
poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it
profiteth me nothing.
Paul goes on to say that his difficulties were alleviated by
the knowledge that the Thessalonians were continuing in their faith. His
statement reflects that he can go on because they are standing fast in the
Lord. He wants dearly to see them again.
11 ¶ Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord
Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 12
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another,
and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13 To the end he may stablish your hearts
unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ with all his saints.
Again, a chapter ends in triumph and joy. Paul’s prayer is
that not only will he be permitted to visit them again but that the
Thessalonians grow in their love toward each other, and not only toward each
other, but to all men. Lest someone think that the ideal Christian life is one
of confinement with other Christians and no love for the lost these kinds of
verses overthrow that notion. The Christian only learns to love the people of
the world he desires to save by loving first his fellow believers.
It is important to note here that Jesus is going to return
with all His saints. You can’t return with someone who is not with you when you
return. Again, a clear statement that indicates that the church will not be on
this earth when Christ returns confronts the reader.
First, you see 1Thessalonians 1:10;
“And to wait for his
Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us
from the wrath to come.”
The church will not face the wrath God is bringing on the
world.
Then, you can see 1Thessalonians 2:19;
“19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of
rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his
coming?”
The church is in Christ’s presence at His return. And now
chapter 3, verse 13;
“To the end he may
stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”
Any review of how the word, “saint,” is used in the Bible
will make it clear that God is referring to His people.
In the Old Testament;
Deuteronomy 33:2 And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and
rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with
ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.
And in the New;
Romans 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God,
called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord
Jesus Christ.
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