Category: The Word (Page 18 of 34)

Thank You for Giving to the Lord

October 31, 2016 / Allan Babcock

Pastors, elders, deacons, missionaries, Sunday school teachers, youth group leaders, worship team members, soup kitchen volunteers, small group leaders, prayer warriors. Tens of thousands of you daily give to the Lord by serving others. An army of servants greater than the U.S. military. More numerous than any volunteer organization in the world.

You serve children, babies, parents, seniors, singles, the sick, the lonely, the lost, the least.

You serve by preaching, teaching, modeling, praying, singing, playing instruments, encouraging, listening, hugging. And we are among the beneficiaries.

But sometimes you servants get discouraged. Pastors, you preach your hearts out and no one says, “Good Word today, pastor.” You missionaries work hard to plant the Word, but get ignored or rejected. You Sunday school teachers agonize over squirming, noisy children more interested in clowning around than learning the lesson. And you worship team members rarely play the right worship song.

Words of thanks are few, and rare. Not that you’re looking for them. But some days, when it seems your efforts go unnoticed at best or criticized at worst, you need them.

You give to the Lord. I don’t remember how many years of preaching and pastoring it took me to learn that. If no one recognized me, so what? I was giving to the Lord. His delight in me—that’s what mattered. But when someone said, “The Lord really spoke to me through your sermon today, pastor”, it was like a breath of springtime fresh air after a cold, dark winter.

As I listened to the accompanying video, I thought of you discouraged servants. Your reward, of course, comes from the Lord. But I also believe that one day in the new creation, the words of this song will be fulfilled. You who give to the Lord faithfully may very well be greeted by a long-to-the-horizon-line of grateful people who, finally from eternity’s perspective, recognize how you served them by giving to the Lord. And as they recount how their lives were changed, they will thank you.

So be encouraged today, servant of the Lord. Your giving to him doesn’t go unnoticed by him. And one day the line of grateful people thanking you for your service will stretch further than you can imagine. Listen to this song. Be encouraged! And thank you. Thank you for giving to the Lord. Lives are being changed because you give.

* * * * *

“Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up”
(Galatians 6:9).

“But encourage one another daily,
as long as it is called Today,
so that none of you may be hardened
by sin’s deceitfulness”
(Hebrews 3:13).

“Let us not give up meeting together,
as some are in the habit of doing,
but let us encourage one another
— and all the more as you see the Day approaching”
(Hebrews 10:25).

If God Wills . . .

October 26, 2016 / Allan Babcock

You didn’t close your bait box. Dozens of worms are escaping (except for the hook-impaled one). Now you have to waste time rounding up those slimy, scattering critters. Hence, metaphorically “to open a can of worms” has come to mean “to deal with a simple matter only to complicate it or create unexpected trouble” (http://mentalfloss.com).

Like examining a 3-word phrase Paul uses in today’s text . . .

After this, Paul stayed many days longer (in Corinth) and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus. When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples (Acts 18:18-23, ESV).

Paul tells the Ephesians, “I will return to you if God wills.” What God wanted would determine if Paul came back to Ephesus or not.

That might sound as loony as the old Blues Brothers line, “We’re on a mission from God.”

Image result for blues brothers photos

But author Luke implies such God-directing moments were typical . . .

“They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them . . . ” (Acts 16:6,7, NRS).

However, “ . . . if God wills” opens a can of worms: the magnitude of the topic, tough questions, “rabbit trails” of complex subjects. We’ll try to limit the can of worms to only questions that will help us understand the significance of Paul’s words.

How inclusive is God’s will?

If it only applies to Paul and maybe other Christian preachers spreading the gospel, then it doesn’t mean much to us. But one of Paul’s profound statements shows how inclusive God’s will is . . .

“In [Christ] we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will . . . ” (Ephesians 1:11, ESV).

Identifying our inheritance as one of the spiritual blessings we have in Christ, Paul refers to God “who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” “Counsel” translates the Greek boulayn—“resolve, purpose, plan, decision”. And “will” translates the Greek thelaymatos—“design, purpose, will” (as the result of what one has decided or purposed). “Works” translates the Greek energountos, a present active participle implying continual, ongoing activity. It might be accurately translated “who continually brings about all things according to the purpose of his will.”

How inclusive is God’s will? Not just an apostle’s destination, but all things. Including the riches of our inheritance in Christ and the flight plan of a butterfly and the crazed scattering of our escaping bait. And everything in our lives. Continually.

Doesn’t God’s will limit us?

Yes. It limited Paul. The Holy Spirit barred him from Bithynia. So God’s will limits us regarding what we worship and how, how we use God’s name, what we do on the Sabbath, and how we treat our parents. God’s will also limits us regarding violence and sex and other people’s property and accusations we might make against someone, even our desires (Exodus 20:1-17).

This aspect of God’s will we might call directive. God directs us to live our lives within the limited moral parameters of his will. (“Be sure to close your bait box securely!”) A second aspect of God’s will we might call decreed. This refers to God’s sovereign will. He will do what he wants independent of what we want. God wanted his Son to be crucified. Though he used men’s evil choices, Jesus’ death didn’t depend on them. No matter what Jews and Romans and disciples willed, Jesus was going to die. If God wants our earthworms to escape and scatter, they will even if we sit on the bait box! If God wants Paul back in Ephesus, the entire Roman army can’t block his way.

Doesn’t the limiting nature of God’s will humble us?

It should. It reminds us—uncomfortably—(despite Winston Churchill’s famous speech to the contrary) we are not masters of our fate and captains of our soul.

We don’t like that. We dig in our heels against a will that rules ours. Instead, we should bow. Essentially this is what James admonished the proud . . .

Now listen to me, you that say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will travel to a certain city, where we will stay a year and go into business and make a lot of money.’ You don’t even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears. What you should say is this: ‘If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that'” (James 4:13-15, GNT).

Wouldn’t that make us slaves to God’s whims?

It would if God were capricious, worse if what he wanted was evil. But Paul, after writing eleven chapters about God’s mercies, appeals to the church to respond to this merciful God by learning to do the will of God. Then he pointedly explains that God’s will isn’t whimsical, capricious or evil, but “good, pleasing and perfect” . . .

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1,2, NIV).

God’s will is good. Greek agathos—“morally good, upright, worthy, beneficial”. God’s will is pleasing. Greek euarpestos—“well-pleasing, acceptable, satisfying” (in God’s sight). God’s will is perfect. Greek telios—“complete (as opposed to partial with important missing parts), undivided, entire”.

Let’s admit God’s will is “good, pleasing and perfect” to God. Learning to do God’s will in the doing (“test and approve”) is spiritual worship to him. However, it’s in such worship to God—humbly learning to do what he wants—that we find a way of life that is “good, pleasing and perfect.”

But doesn’t God’s will lead us sometimes to suffer?

No getting around it. Experience teaches it. So does the apostle Peter . . .

“For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil” (1 Peter 3:17, ESV).

But God promises to use that suffering for ultimate good . . .

” . . . we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5, ESV).

It’s not as if we can escape suffering if we resist God’s will. Everybody suffers. But it’s God’s will to “redeem” our suffering for ultimate and eternal good. With all the foregoing in mind, then, Jesus teaches us to . . .

Pray for God’s will.

Not only are we to humbly submit to what God wants, not only are we to say, “I’ll go to Toledo tomorrow if God wills,” but we are to pray that God’s will might be done. Listen to Jesus’ famous prayer-lesson . . .

“Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven . . . ” (Matthew 6:9,10, ESV).

This prayer is HUGE. I’m not only to request our Father to cause me to do his will today at work and at home and in my finances and sex life. I’m to ask that our Father’s will be ultimately and eternally done in the coming of his consummated kingdom to earth.

True, God reigns now. “The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19, ESV). But not without opposition from the world, the flesh, and the devil. One day, though, Jesus will come with the clouds. On his thigh these words will be written: “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16). And what he wants will be fully, wholly done. Then we shall know the full goodness, delight and perfection of his will—not just to him, but for us.

As I reread this blog, I realize (despite my best intentions) that I did indeed open up a can of worms. Hopefully, though, I didn’t lead you to concentrate on chasing worms, but on fishing. Maybe I can nail it with this final thought: Until the day God’s will is fully, wholly done, may “If God wills” be found, not only on the apostle’s lips, but on ours.

jesus praying photo: jesus prayer-1.jpg

Mocking Corinth

October 20, 2016 / Allan Babcock

Hard to picture God, especially since he’s spirit! We can picture him, though, in Jesus. Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9, NIV). Of course, we haven’t seen Jesus. But it’s easier to picture a flesh-and-blood God than a spirit one.

Now here’s a higher-level of “hard”. Picture the Lord mockingly laughing at his enemies.

Why do the nations plan rebellion?
Why do people make their useless plots?

Their kings revolt, their rulers plot together against the Lord
and against the king he chose.

“Let us free ourselves from their rule,” they say;

“let us throw off their control.”

From his throne in heaven
the Lord laughs and mocks their feeble plans.

(Psalm 2:1-4, GNT)

Let’s go back once more to Corinth. The Lord’s message had run into Corinth (see 2 Thessalonians 3:1 for this concept of “run” or “spread”.) Then it ran through Corinth. And in its wake it left the church of Jesus Christ. Men and women, who once practiced sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, stealing, greed, drunkenness, reviling and swindling, were now washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by God’s Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, ESV).

Resistance, though, had been formidable. It had come from the morally-corrupt, sexual-charged, pleasure-seeking populace whose practices created an evil environment. It had come, too, from Corinth’s Jews who fiercely rejected Jesus as Messiah. (See Acts 18:5-10 and https://theoldpreacher.com/welcome-to-corinth/.)

Today we come to the final act of Jewish resistance that author Luke records . . .

When Gallio was made the Roman governor of Achaia, Jews there got together, seized Paul, and took him into court “This man,” they said, “is trying to persuade people to worship God in a way that is against the law!” Paul was about to speak when Gallio said to the Jews, “If this were a matter of some evil crime or wrong that has been committed, it would be reasonable for me to be patient with you Jews. But since it is an argument about words and names and your own law, you yourselves must settle it. I will not be the judge of such things!” And he drove them out of the court. They all grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the court. But that did not bother Gallio a bit (Acts 18:12-17,GNT)

A new man occupied the Roman governor’s mansion in Corinth. For hostile-to-Jesus Jews this was a chance to silence Paul using Roman law. The mob met to plan and plot. Then, at the right time and place they physically grabbed Paul and dragged him to court. “Court” was little more than a raised platform set outdoors where the governor sat to pass judgement on legal disputes. But this judgment would have both far-reaching and laughable consequences.

The accusers speak first. “This man is trying to persuade people to worship God in a way that is against the (Roman) law!” Like China today (as one example), the Roman empire legalized the religions they deemed permissible.

Now the accused’s turn comes. But before Paul can defend himself, Governor Gallio does. He’s made his decision: the case doesn’t merit hearing. Paul wasn’t preaching a new (illegal) religion , but a form of (legal) Judaism. Gallio’s decision had decade-long consequences. Implicitly he allowed the legal spread of Christianity. We should remember Governor Gallio was administrator, not just of Corinth, but of all Achaia province. His verdict established case law for other judges. Paul was free to keep spreading the Lord’s message.

If this outcome was frustrating for the Jewish mob, it became physically painful for the new synagogue president, Sostheness (the former, Crispus, had converted to Messiah Jesus). Humiliatingly thrown out of Gallio’s court, “[t]hey all grabbed Sosthenes . . . and beat him in front of the court.” Maybe Roman law had been Sosthene’s idea. Maybe the mob had expected Sosthenes to influence the governor. Or maybe they just looked for a scapegoat to beat up. Whatever the reason, the mob bloodied their synagogue president, which troubled Governor Gallio not one bit.

That’s when the Lord might have laughed and mocked their feeble plans.

Paul stayed on with the believers in Corinth for many days, then left them and sailed off with Priscilla and Aquila for Syria (Acts 18:18, GNT).

Paul stayed in Corinth “for many days”, probably to establish new believers in the faith. Then, after nearly two years in the city, he sailed away, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him. “Whoredomville” remained. But planted beneath its morally corrupt radar was the Spirit-empowered, Jesus-exalting, God-centered church. Far from perfect as the Corinthian correspondence will show. But alive with the life-transforming presence of the Lord.

White Christian America and Corinth.

I’ve just begun to read The End of White Christian America. Author Robert P. Jones reports that “the proportion of white Christians in the country, while still comprising the largest [group), has slipped below a majority to 47%.” Among the causes? Aging, immigration and “waning cultural influence”. “The incursion of the Internet and national cable news . . . has made it impossible for White Christian America’s contemporary descendants to assume that their own beliefs are universal.”

Paul in Corinth reminded me of our growing minority status in the U.S. The apostle and his team, as well as the new believers they left behind, were a tiny minority. And one bizarrely (in their eyes) different from the sexually-charged, pleasure-seeking, idol-worshiping city.

See parallels between the Christians in Corinth and us in America? Maybe our “shrinking” is a surprise. But eventually we have to face the fact that the “white Christian America” we once knew is gone. Our influence on the culture continues to wane. We’re getting older and other ethnic groups are moving in with religions far different from Christianity. That requires us to live faithfully to our Lord as a minority and, like Paul, engage the majority with the Lord’s message, both in word and acts.

But we must do this too: we must remember that the gospel-believing and gospel-proclaiming Paul left Corinth having successfully planted the good news by the power of the Spirit. And perhaps mouthing words he would later write back to this church . . .

“But thanks be to God,
who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ
and through us spreads everywhere
the fragrance of the knowledge of him.”
(2 Corinthians 2:14, GNT)

Hear the Lord laughing?

Do Benedictions Work?

October 16, 2016 / Allan Babcock

the pastor stands in the pulpit, extends both arms toward the congregation and proclaims, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:13). With this benediction, the meeting ends and congregants head for the doors, friends, or children.

A benediction, according to one Internet dictionary, is “the utterance or bestowing of a blessing, especially at the end of a religious service.” It’s not a prayer which, according to the Westminster Catechism, is : “an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies.” (A profound, delightful prayer-definition!)

Two significant differences emerge between benediction and prayer. A prayer is spoken to God; a benediction is spoken to people. A prayer asks God to bless (or thanks him for blessing); a benedictor imparts a blessing to others.

The question is, “Do benedictions work?” For instance, using the above benediction from 2 Corinthians, does Jesus somehow mediate grace, God mediate love, and the Holy Spirit mediate his presence to people as they leave the meeting? If benedictions don’t work, they’re just spiritual-sounding words that put a neat “The End” on a worship service.

Here’s a list of some benedictions found in the Bible . . .

Rom. 15:5-6 – May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom. 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

2 Cor. 13:11 – Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

2 Cor. 13:13 – The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Gal. 6:18 – The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Eph. 3:17-19 – (May) Christ dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Eph. 3:20-21 – Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Eph. 6:23-24 – Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

Col. 3:16-17 – Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

15. 1 Thess. 3:12,13–May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 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.

Th. 5:23-24 – Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

2 Th. 2:16-17 – Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Philem. 25 – The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Jude 24-25 – Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Rev. 1:5b-6 – To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Rev. 5:12, 13 – Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! …To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!

Rev. 7:12 – Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.

Rev. 22:20-21 – He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Thankfully we’re not saved by knowing the differences between benedictions and prayers! In reality, they both in some way appeal to God. But for the remainder of this blog, let’s focus on benedictions.

Do they work? In my view, yes. Though I confess, I’ve never seen any visible consequences. Still, they convey the blessings spoken, because they are God’s words. “[The] word that goes out from my mouth . . . will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). Though contextually this refers to prophetic words, most assuredly it applies to all the words God has “spoken.” So, yes, grace, love and the Spirit’s presence are mediated through the 2 Corinthians 13:13 benediction.

But how? How can a human’s word actually convey blessings from God to others? (The question has a practical application we’ll reach momentarily.) By the pastor speaking them in faith, believing they are God’s words. And by the hearers receiving them by faith as God’s words. In other words, the benediction, which we sometimes “hear” with as much interest as reading a movie’s scroll of contributors can be a holy moment for us.

As I see it, the same would be true for a benediction created by the pastor to fit the theme of his sermon or the service, as long as his creation coincides with Scripture.

A pastor giving a benediction in faith and congregants receiving it in faith is a practical application. Here’s one more. How about making a practice of blessing our children with benedictions? We could do it over them as they sleep, or, better, creating a holy moment while they’re awake. I regret I never did that with our children. But what good might be accomplished in them if they heard us again and again speaking the very blessings over them we long for them to enjoy?

In conclusion (as pastors are wont to say), here’s a benediction I pray God will bless us all with . . .

“Now may the God of peace—

who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,

the great Shepherd of the sheep,

and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—

may he equip you with all you need for doing his will.

May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ,

every good thing that is pleasing to him.

All glory to him forever and ever! Amen”

(Hebrews 13:20,21, NLT).

Praying for Missionaries

October 13, 2016 / Allan Babcock

I admit it. When I receive prayer requests from missionaries, I don’t always pray for them. In today’s text (2 Thessalonians 3:1-5), Paul requests prayer from the church in Thessalonica. Is it a request we should honor?

“Finally, our friends, pray for us that the Lord’s message may continue to spread rapidly and be received with honor, just as it was among you. Pray also that God will rescue us from wicked and evil people; for not everyone believes the message” (3:1,2, GNT).

Paul asks for prayer for two purposes: one, “that the Lord’s message may continue to spread rapidly and be received with honor, just as it was among you” and, two,“that God will rescue us from wicked and evil people; for not everyone believes the message.”

” . . . that the Lord’s message may continue to spread rapidly and be received with honor, just as it was among you.”

The Good News Translation translates the Greek word trecho “spread rapidly.” Think of a California wildfire that, driven by the wind, swiftly eats acres of dry vegetation. Paul asks for prayer that the Lord’s word may spread throughout the Mediterranean lands like that.

And that it may be honored (Greek, doxazo—“magnified, praised, glorified”) This is what happened among these Thessalonians. Though most Jews and Gentiles rejected it as heresy or nonsense, these men and women “received the word in much affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit” and “turned from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:8,9, ESV). Paul asks for prayer that many other cities may similarly receive the Lord’s message.

” . . . that God will rescue us from wicked and evil people; for not everyone believes the message”

People to whom Paul will take the Lord’s message aren’t morally good or even neutral. They are “wicked and evil.” How different Paul’s view of humanity from ours! The popular view today seems to be that people are basically good (just not perfect) and in need of minor improvement not saving

For Paul, the ultimate expression of wickedness and evil is not believing the Lord’s message. For the Lord’s word isn’t a polite invitation of the crucified Savior, but an authoritative command from the risen Lord. It’s a message that saves, to be sure. But to disbelieve it is to rebel against supreme rule. And, as Paul discovered, often that disbelieving rejection is accompanied by hostility and even violence. Therefore, the missionaries need the Lord’s power to overcome wickedness and evil.

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and keep you safe from the Evil One” (3:3, GNT).

Paul will later write to the Ephesians: “For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age” (Ephesians 6:12, GNT). So the missionaries will encounter “wicked and evil people.” But the fight is not against them, but the Evil One who empowers them. Their only hope of victory (both the Thessalonians who continue to endure persecution and the missionaries who take the gospel to worshipers of other gods) is the faithful Lord who strengthens and keeps his people safe from the Evil One.

““And the Lord gives us confidence in you, and we are sure that you are doing and will continue to do what we tell you” (3:4, GNT).

Paul’s pastoral heart encourages the persecuted new Thessalonian believers, even as he asks for their prayers. The Lord convinces us, he writes, that they will not fall prey to the Evil One or surrender to their enemies. Instead, he is confident they will continue to follow what Paul teaches them and asks of them.

“May the Lord lead you into a greater understanding of God’s love and the endurance that is given by Christ” (3:5, GNT).

Paul finishes his prayer request with a two-fold prayer for the Thessalonians as he remembers their struggle against enemies of the faith.

” . . . May the Lord lead you into a greater understanding of God’s love . . . “

Contending with the hostility of gospel enemies daily, they must remember—indeed he prays they may have a greater understanding of—God’s love for them. While the objects of the hate of men, they are the objects of the love of God!

” . . . May the Lord lead you into a greater understanding of . . .the endurance that is given by Christ.”

The way of Christ is narrow and rough. Following demands steadfast endurance. But how shall they in their natural weakness endure against a powerful Enemy? By “the endurance that is given by Christ.” His is a supernatural supplement that will strengthen them for the long haul.

Prayer.

How shall a wildfire-spreading, honored message happen? How shall the Evil One be defeated? How shall God’s love and Christ’s endurance be accessed more? By prayer.

Missionaries serve on the front lines, many in countries that outlaw the gospel, all facing the oppression of the Evil One. They need our prayers that access the Lord’s provision. Not only that, but when we pray (and give financial support) we take part in the global spread of the Lord’s message. Our little lives take on world-wide, eternal meaning.

The next time we receive prayer requests from missionaries, may we reply with our prayers. And I pray that I won’t read their requests and trash their letters, but pause to pray—and join my ministry with theirs for the sake of the lost and the glory of our Lord.

The Man of Lawlessness

October 9, 2016 / Allan Babcock

“The 20th century will probably go down in history as the exemplar of geopolitical interstate conflict with two World Wars centered in Europe followed by over four decades of the Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union. The 21st century, in contrast, could well become a period of lawlessness and disorder—a century in which states are in long-term decline . . . ” (“Lawlessness and Disorder: An Emerging Paradigm for the 21st Century” by Phil Williams).

“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawless is revealed . . . ” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3b).

In the first quote above, a secular educator predicts this century “could well become a period of lawlessness” (for blog and entire article see https://theoldpreacher.com/the-rebellion/) In the second, the apostle writes about a sinister “man of lawlessness” to be revealed.

The Thessalonians, persecuted for their faith , feared that “the day of the Lord” had come, and they had missed Christ’s Second Coming, which would save them from suffering. Paul, though unsure how that rumor started, warns them against being deceived.

Hard for us to relate, no? We’re not panicked over missing Jesus’ coming. In fact, caught up in our crowded calendars, it seems we care too little about his return or the world’s conditions leading to it.

For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? (2 Thessalonians 2:3b-5).

This “man of lawlessness” will be a man (Greek, anthropos) empowered by Satan (“The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders . . . “), who openly defies God (“opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God”).

Why is lawlessness called a “mystery”, especially when we see evidence of it in Washington (when politicians violate the Constitution, lie under oath to Congress, etc.) and in Syria (when Syrians and Russians brazenly slaughter innocent civilians) and in the streets of Chicago and Baltimore and Ferguson (when protesting gangs defy police)? Because lawlessness is a power at work “beneath the radar.” One day, according to God’s purposes, it will be fully and visibly unleashed. The results will be catastrophic. Until then lawlessness and “the man” are restrained . . .

And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8).

Unlike the Thessalonians, we don’t know what or who the restrainer is. Commentators have made educated guesses—the church, the Holy Spirit, gospel preaching, governments and so on. I’m rather intrigued by governments and governors being the restrainer. As long as they maintain a modicum of law and order, lawlessness and its “man” are relatively restrained. But if governments descend into chaos lawlessness will result and “the man of lawlessness” will be free to assume authority.

Paul doesn’t describe the suffering that unrestrained lawlessness will bring. But just think of the horrors men of lawlessness (who wrote their own laws and set themselves up like gods)—men like Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Pol Pot—inflicted on the world! And they were only precursors of “the man of lawlessness” to come!

Nevertheless, his dominance will be short-lived and easily ended (“the lawless one will be revealed, whomthe Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his [that is, the Lord Jesus’] coming”).

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

Upon those who “refused to love the truth and so be saved” God sends “a strong delusion. ” Its purpose? , ” . . . so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Note the choice made by unbelievers isn’t just intellectual or “spiritual”. It’s hedonistic, specifically one of pleasure. Those who found greater pleasure in what God calls “unrighteousness” will be condemned in final judgment.

Paul draws from Daniel.

Lest we think “the man of lawlessness” is a biblical outsider mentioned only once in Scripture, he recalls Daniel’s prophecies in the 6th century B.C.

“As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, |
and another shall arise after them;
he shall be different from the former ones,
and shall put down three kings.
He shall speak words against the Most High,
and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,
and shall think to change the times and the law;
and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time”
(Daniel 7:24,25).

“His power shall be great–but not by his own power;
and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does,
and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints.
By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand,
and in his own mind he shall become great.
Without warning he shall destroy many.
And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes,
and he shall be broken–but by no human hand.”
(Daniel 8:24,25)

“And the king shall do as he wills.
He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god,
and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods.
He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished;
for what is decreed shall be done.”
(Daniel 11:36)

These prophecies find multiple fulfillment. First, during the Macabbean wars in 167 B.C., when Antiochus Epiphanes (“the visible god”) attacked Jerusalem, sacrificed a pig on the temple altar and tried to exterminate the Jews. Second, when Rome attacked Jerusalem in 66 A.D. and, after protracted war, destroyed the temple in 70 A.D. And, third, still to come in the last of the last days when the “temple” will be profaned by the ultimate “man of lawlessness.” (Those who hold that Jews will rebuild a literal temple in Jerusalem believe “the man of lawlessness” will sit there. Those who hold that “temple” refers to the church, as it does often in the New Testament, hold that his sitting is metaphorical but just as offensive.)

Last of the Last Days’ Lawlessness.

It should concern us, maybe even frighten us. Contrary to popular thinking, the world is not evolving up. We didn’t start in a primal swamp and develop into a better and better humanity. The opposite is true. God created the first man and woman “very good.” It’s been downhill ever since. Humans who created the Smart Phone are killing each other like barbarians. And times will worsen.

Our only hope lies with the One who is coming again . . .

For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord,
that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,
will by no means precede those who have died.
For the Lord himself, with a cry of command,
with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet,
will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive, who are left,
will be caught up in the clouds together with them
to meet the Lord in the air;
and so we will be with the Lord forever.
Therefore encourage one another with these words.
(1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, NRSV)

And then the lawless one will be revealed,
whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his mouth,
annihilating him by the manifestation of his coming . . .
So then, brothers and sisters,
stand firm and hold fast to the tradition
that you were taught by us,
either by word of mouth or by our letter.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,
who loved us
and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope,
comfort your hearts
and strengthen them in every good work and word.
(2 Thessalonians 2:8,15-17, NRSV)

For the Bible Tells Me So

October 1, 2016 / Allan Babcock

Andy Stanley, senior pastor of Atlanta’s North Point Community Church, recently preached a sermon, “For the Bible Told Me So.” If I understand correctly, this was his thesis: we shouldn’t believe Jesus loves us because the Bible says he does, but because the apostles were witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection and, therefore, everything Jesus taught is true.

Confusing? Uh, yeah. But more importantly, potentially dangerous. If we can’t stand on biblical truth, how do we know Jesus rose from the dead? How do we know the apostles were witnesses? How do we know Jesus loves us? Are we to treat the Bible like a Chinese menu? (“I believe in Jesus, but not in Jonah’s fish or John’s Revelation!”)

This link http://www.albertmohler.com/2016/09/26/bible-tells-biblical-authority-denied/ takes you to Dr. Albert Mohler’s response to Stanley. In the 8th paragraph you’ll find a link to Stanley’s sermon on video. You should watch. Then read Mohler’s response. Then, if it’s not past bedtime, finish off with my comments.

* * * * *

If you’re still with me, a few final comments . . .

Archaeology. Undoubtedly, as Stanley asserts, some dates in Scripture don’t seem to add up. Archaeology has yet to prove the historical authenticity of certain sites or events. Stanley warns if the Bible is the foundation of our faith, “as the Bible goes, so goes our faith.” It’s a “fragile house of cards” that comes tumbling down.

As I see it, archaeology is confirmative not determinative. I’m not an archaeologist, so I may be wrong. Because archaeologists haven’t yet found remains of Jericho’s fallen-down walls doesn’t mean they won’t or that the walls didn’t fall, no matter what a high school teacher or college professor may claim.

Bibliolatry. Bibliolatry is the worship of the Bible. Sometimes I fear some of us get so Bible-centered we forget it’s meant to point beyond itself to God and what he’s said and done. Stanley may have something to say to us there. What he does say is this: “Christianity does not exist because of the Bible anymore than you exist because of your birth certificate. It’s the other way around.”

Well, duh! Whoever said Christianity exists because of the Bible? The Bible records what God has done in human history through Israel, through the church, and primarily through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Book exists to bring us to the Person. Who doesn’t know that?

“Contradictions”. Take the age of the Earth. Some Christians emphatically believe, by counting biblical generations, that the Earth is 4,000-6,000 years old, while scientists insist the age is billions. Can we believe the Bible about Jesus if science “proves” it wrong on this? No time to delve into possible explanations. Let me just say this about these apparent “discrepancies”.

A long time ago someone told me, “Treat the Bible like a friend. When you come to something that doesn’t seem to ‘fit’, just trust and wait. Keep the friendship. Sooner or later you’ll understand.”

Or how about this? There’s a great deal about the universe we don’t understand. Do we conclude it’s not truly the universe because of contradictions or “missing pieces”?

Good Heart, Unfortunate Approach. I assume Stanley’s motive is good: he’s trying to reach people turned away from Christ because their simple childhood faith can’t stand against the onslaught of intellectuals determined to prove the Bible untrustworthy. Unfortunately, by treating the Bible as of secondary importance, Stanley undermines the very source needed for mature faith.

Payback

September 30, 2016 / Allan Babcock

Benjamin hurried down the narrow street toward home as dusk fell over Thessalonica. It wasn’t safe for a Christian Jew alone. Suddenly he sensed he wasn’t. A glance behind was met with fists assaulting his face and back. Kicks to his legs felled him. On the ground the punching persisted. He couldn’t defend himself against four men. “Blasphemer! Traitor! Jesus is not Messiah!” Then, as suddenly as it had started, it stopped. Benjamin was left on his back, bleeding and alone, his money-purse gone. The cost of believing in Jesus Messiah had intensified in the last months.

Why does pain come with following his Son? Why do the “bad guys” win and the “good guys” lose? Should we just throw up our hands in defeat and admit “life is unfair”? Makes you want to “get even”, to pay back the perps pain-for-pain.

Of course, I don’t suffer like Benjamin. My enemy is a chronic illness, a disability. It, like Benjamin’s beaters, tests my faith. Life isn’t fair. I want to take revenge. But on whom?

One way or other many of us occasionally feel a burning desire to “get even”. Yet, the Lord forbids us: “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

But Paul has more to say. In today’s text, he announces a coming “payback” day . . .

“Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:4-12).

Evidence of God’s Payback

“This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God . . . ” What’s the evidence? Paul presents two pieces of proof. #1— The Thessalonians’ steadfast faith in the face of persecution cries out for justice to the righteous God. #2—“God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you and to grant relief to you who are afflicted”. The evidence supports the promise: God will judge with justice. Which brings us to the . . .

Ground of God’s Payback

God is righteous. Twice Paul reminds us. “This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God . . . ” and “God considers it just . . . ” Both words translate the Greek dikaiosunay—“morally right, upright, just, fair”. Payback day’s ground is rock solid. The solid rock is not changing circumstances. Not fallen man’s idea of justice. But the righteous nature of God himself that demands judgment.

Anticipation of God’s Payback

For what are these Christians suffering persecution? Why has Benjamin been beaten and bloodied on an empty street? ” . . .that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God for which you are suffering . . . “. They are suffering “for the kingdom of God”. They are suffering so when Jesus returns and consummates his kingdom, they may be considered worthy of it.

“Worthy” translates the Greek kataxio-o—“to be considered worthy or deserving.” This is not worth-by-sinlessness but worth-by-faithfulness. If they faithfully endure the persecution, they will reign with Christ (2 Timothy 2:12). “To those who win the victory I will give the right to sit beside me on my throne, just as I have been victorious and now sit by my Father on his throne” (Revelation 3:21).

Christians, then, are a people looking forward to Christ’s kingdom while being beaten down in the kingdoms of this world.

Two Parts to God’s Payback

Part One.

” . . .repay with affliction those who afflict you.” “Repay” is the Greek antapodidomai, “to give back as an equivalent, repay, return.” As the persecutors have afflicted Christians, so they will likewise be afflicted. The bullies don’t win in the end. Yet worse will come for them . . .

” . . .inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might . . . ” Not just the persecutors will be judged. Those disobedient to the gospel and who, therefore, do not know God (this will include the persecutors, of course) will be driven from the Lord’s presence and his glorious power. Justice will be served and the punishment will be more than the guilty can bear.

Part Two.

” . . .to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us . . . ” “Relief” is the Greek anesis—literally, “mitigation, freedom”; figuratively, “rest, relaxation, relief.” To the afflicted the Lord will give freedom and rest from all affliction. A permanent oasis in the desert. A secure fortress in war never to be breached.

” . . . to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.” The Lord Jesus will come with all his holy ones; that is, the sinner’s justified and sanctified. ” . . . may [he] establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints” (1 Thessalonians 3:13). “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). ” . . . provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:17). Christ will be glorified in us and we in him!

The Time of God’s Payback

God will repay “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire and when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed”. When that will be no one knows but the Father (Matthew 24:36). But it will come!

* * * * *

So, bleeding Benjamin lying broken in the street, guilty of nothing but acknowledging Jesus as Messiah, silence that rising roar for revenge. Vengeance is the Lord’s. He will repay. Remember Jesus: crucified for no guilt of his own. But vindicated on the third day. Raised to reign.

He’s coming again. And he will raise you up, Benjamin. He will take vengeance on your enemies, who are, in fact, his enemies, because you are his. Then, justice will reign forever. Wrongs will be righted. Because our God is a God of righteousness and justice!

Jesus is coming!

“Afflict” translates the Greek thibo—literally, “press hard, rub together”; figuratively, “oppress, cause trouble to”. “Affliction” is trying to stand on a mobbed subway car, hanging on to the strap for dear life, while the jostling of the train slams people into you and you into people from every direction. “Affliction” in persecution is a mob threatening your life because of your faith.

Growing Faith, Increasing Love

September 27, 2016 / Allan Babcock

In what kind of soil does faith grow best and love increase most?

The question isn’t academic. For years I’ve endured my life’s toughest faith-test. Some days my faith feels as weak as my body. I need growing faith. Immersed in my own needs, my love for others shrinks. I need increasing love.

After greeting the Thessalonians (1:1,2—https://theoldpreacher.com/grace-and-peace/), Paul gives thanks to God for them . . .

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. (2 Thessalonians 1:3,4)

“Ought” (Greek, ophaylo) makes Paul’s thanks seem obligatory. “Right” (Greek, axios—worthy, fit, in keeping with what should be done) reminds us thanks is a moral obligation before God for what he’s done. Thus, even though thanks is an “ought”, it’s in keeping with how we should respond to God for his goodness. These brothers believed the Lord’s message because it came empowered by God the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 1:5). Consequently, they had “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:9b,10).

Are you a believer? Thank God!

Paul, however, thanks God for the Thessalonians’ “faith [that] is growing abundantly” and “love . . . for one another [that] is increasing”.

Abundantly Growing Faith.

The concept of growing faith raises a question: How to measure faith? Jesus did when he spoke of faith’s size. ” . . . if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:21). Again, “When Jesus heard [the man’s reply], he was astonished and said to those following him, “‘I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith'” (Matthew 8:10). Faith, therefore, can be “small” or “great”—and still accomplish astounding results.

On the other hand, Hebrews 11:36-38 commends the faith of those who suffered. No sensational miracles there! Or were there?

In any case, faith is challenging to measure. But one thing is clearly true: abundantly growing faith is a virtue for which to always thank God.

Increasing Love.

As faith is God’s gift (Ephesians 2:8,9), so love is the Spirit’s fruit (Galatians 5:22,23). Love is also the expression of faith. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:6). This is why Paul thanks God for the Thessalonians’ increasing mutual love: it is the Spirit’s fruit and the expression of God-given faith. We should also note Paul speaks of love, not as a feeling, but an action. It’s an observable virtue seen in how the believers treat one another.

Growing & Increasing.

Is God the only actor in growing faith and increasing love? Do we play no role? Listen again to Paul: “Therefore [because of your growing faith and increasing love] we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.” Paul doesn’t say, “We boast about God”, but “We boast about you for your steadfastness of faith . . . ” Implication: Christians have a part to play in growing faith and increasing love. The part to which Paul refers here may be surprising.

The Soil.

I’d prefer my faith growing and love increasing sitting comfortably at my desk prayerfully pouring over God’s Word. Probably that would have been the Thessalonians’ preference too. But see the soil where the Thessalonians’ faith grew and love increased: “we ourselves boast about you . . . for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and afflictions that you are enduring.”

What kind of faith were they growing in? Steadfast. The Greek is hupomonay—used of steadfast adherence to a course of action in spite of difficulties and testings; “patient endurance, perseverance.” Jews who disbelieved in Jesus Messiah abused the believing Jews (and probably the believing Gentile “dogs” too). But the believers clung to Jesus in faith. They chose to keep trusting him no matter the cost. So like weathered trees high up on the tree-line, their faith grew tough. There’s a world of difference between faith grown only in the soil of Scripture’s pages and faith grown in the soil of affliction!

A Dilemma.

In affliction I feel faithless, not as if my faith’s growing. I quote Jesus: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? I ask, “Why me? Why this? But heaven’s silent. I’m left with God’s Word on printed page reminding me he’s at work for good. But I see no good no matter how I strain my eyes.

Yet it’s precisely at this point I face a choice: keep trusting despite not knowing or shipwreck my faith once and for all. And it’s then a still, small voice whispers: where will you go if you turn from trusting Jesus?

Grace and Peace to You

September 25, 2016 / Allan Babcock

Hello . . . good morning . . . hi . . . what’s happenin’, dude? . . . wazz-up, brotha? . . . grace and peace to you. Common greetings. Even that last one that makes this look like one of those what-term-doesn’t-belong-in-this-group test. But the one we’d chuck out is the one Paul began all of his 13 New Testament letters with (in some form). Here it is in his second letter to the Thessalonians . . .

Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:1,2).

Silas and Timothy have returned to Paul at Corinth after delivering his first letter to the Thessalonians. In response to their report, Paul pens 2 Thessalonians. He begins with his typical greeting, the second part of which we’ll look closely at.

First, an important question: Is “Grace and peace to you” similar to our “Good Morning”, just a common greeting? Or does it carry weighty theological content? From a practical standpoint, if “Grace and peace to
you” is similar to our “Good Morning”, we can continue to gloss over it as we normally do. But if these are weighty words, we should pause and ponder them. I think they’re weighty. I think Paul used them to speak a “greeting/blessing” over the church because the Holy Spirit inspired Paul, and he doesn’t mumble to a passer-by “Grace and peace” out of compelled politeness. So let’s look more closely at those weighty words . . .

What is “grace”?

The Greek charis can be translated “grace, kindness, goodwill, mercy, favor, gift.” Luke uses it of the Jerusalem population’s attitude toward the new believers—“[the church was] praising God and having favor (charis) with all the people” (Acts 2:47). The citizens were treating the church with kindness and good will.

Paul uses it in the familiar text of Ephesians 2:8,9—“For by grace (charis) you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Here grace is God’s “gift”—God showing mercy to sinners in the sacrificial death of Christ.

Paul also uses charis in 2 Corinthians 12:9 when he records the Lord’s answer to his prayer to be rid of his “thorn in the flesh”: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Here’s a dimension to grace we easily miss. When God is grace-giver, grace is more than an undeserved gift; grace is power that gives strength in human weakness.

What is “peace”?

The Greek eiraynay is translated “peace, harmony, order.” Corresponding to the Hebrew shalom it means “health, welfare.” (Eiraynay is so used especially in greetings.) In Romans 15:13 Paul uses it of a state of inner rest and harmony with God—“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace . . . ”

Luke records the angel and a multitude of the heavenly host saying in announcement of Jesus’ birth, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased” (Luke 2:14). Here eiraynay is used of the last days’ salvation in which sinners are reconciled to God.

Who is the source ?

God, of course. “Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” That is, God the Father is the ultimate source with grace and peace being mediated through him to those who believe. Paul’s not writing of the church being gracious to one another so they can enjoy peaceful relationships. He’s writing about supernatural grace and peace coming from God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ.

He makes it more personal by writing, “To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” The church is in God, meaning at least in union with God. And the God grace and peace are received from is not just the Father, but “our” Father.

Knowing this of Paul’s blessing/prayer would likely have greatly encouraged the Thessalonians. They first had “received the word in much affliction” (1 Thessalonians 1:6). Since then, persecution has grown. Paul refers to
” , , , the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering” (2 Thessalonians 1:5) and “God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you” (1:6).

Did Paul expect the Thessalonians to actually receive “grace and peace”?

Yes. Paul expected, through both the proceeding words of his letter and the working of the Holy Spirit, God would give a measure of grace and peace to the Thessalonians. If not, his blessing/prayer was nothing more than “May all your dreams come true”.

How can we use this blessing/prayer in our lives?

As a benediction. The pastor can use it in a worship service. A father could recite it over his family at the dinner table. (It’d take courage. Teenagers would moan something about sounding like Puritans!) But worth it, right, if we enjoyed more “grace and peace from God”?

As a prayer. “God our Father, please give us your grace for these difficult days. And may we then be able to rest in the peace that the world cannot give. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.” Reflect on this Scripture while listening to the Youtube video in this post.

As a greeting. Not as an empty mantra. But as a sincere greeting to everyone on Sunday morning. A hug or handshake and, “Grace and peace to you, my friend.” Certainly more meaningful than “wazz-up, brotha?”