Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

The church at Thessalonica manifested such good qualities that Paul held them up as an example. He said that they were “ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia” (1 Thess. 1:7). What were the attributes of that church that made them an example to others and caused Paul to commend them?

They Received the Word of God

The church at Thessalonica received what Paul preached as if it were the words of God instead of the words of men. Paul said that they “received the word of God which ye heard of us, … not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thess. 2:13). They learned that rejecting the words of an inspired apostle is the same as rejecting the words of Jesus. “He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 4:8).

These saints understood that the Lord had committed the word of reconciliation to the apostles and, therefore, they were ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor. 5:18-21). They received the ambassadors of Christ and by so doing also received Christ.

Their reception of the word of God caused a change in their lives. They “turned unto God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven” (1 Thess. 1:9-10). Would to God that men everywhere had the same willingness to receive the word of God as did these saints in Thessalonica.

They Persevered in the Face of Affliction

The establishment of the church in Thessalonica was accompanied by fierce resistance. Luke tells us that Paul and Silas taught in the synagogue for three Sabbaths, resulting in the con-version of “a great multitude” of devout Greeks (God-fearers) and quite a few chief women. The Jews became jealous and stirred up a riot against the Christians. They involved the local authorities in their assaults (Acts 17:1-9). After this riot, Paul and Silas left Thessalonica.

When he wrote his first letter to the church in Thessalonica, Paul took note that they had “received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost” (1 Thess. 1:6). Soon after leaving Thessalonica, Paul sent Timothy to see how the brethren were surviving. He was concerned that the persecutions would cause some to depart from the faith, even though he had told them beforehand that these troubles would come (I Thess. 3:3-4). Timothy brought back the good news that the brethren were maintaining their faith in God in spite of their afflictions (I Thess. 3:6-8).

Because of their faithfulness in the face of persecution, this church was an example to others. “For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews” (I Thess. 2:14). Lesser saints would have wilted under the pressure, but not the good saints in Thessalonica. No wonder they were an example to others.

They Loved Each Other

When Paul exhorted them to certain forms of conduct, there were some things they did not need to be taught, because they were already known for practicing them. One of them is their brotherly love toward each other. Paul said, “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more” (I Thess. 4:9-10).

One of the marks that men are children of God is their love for one another. Jesus told his disciples just before the crucifixion, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if he have love one to another” (John 13:34-35).

This brotherly love showed itself in the actions described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8  longsuffering, kindness, not en-vying one another, not vaunting oneself, not being puffed up, not behaving unseemly, not seeking one’s own, not being easily provoked, thinking no evil, not rejoicing in iniquity but in the truth, bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things, enduring all things, and never failing. No doubt these brethren rejoiced with those who rejoiced and wept with those who were wept (Rom. 12:15).

They Sounded Out the Gospel to Others

Another reason the church at Thessalonica was commended is that they were a missionary church. They were not content to build their building in the nicest part of town, pave their parking lot, and install padded pews. They were interested in the souls of men. “For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak anything” (1 Thess. 1:7-8).

Far too many congregations lack vision in spreading the gospel. Perhaps some become content just to “keep house” for the Lord. In some local congregations, a subtle death is occurring. Churches that are not baptizing new members are slowly becoming older in age. Here is the scenario that will occur for such churches. There will be fewer children present. As the church grows older and its members begin dying, a group of elderly Christians will be left. As one by one they go down the valley of the shadow of death, the church will dwindle until only a handful is left. A church that is not converting people needs to address why this is occurring and correct its problems.

Other churches may be doing very well in their own personal development but lack vision in taking the gospel to others. The numerous appeals that others send for support are ignored. Money can always be found to work on their building, but none is generally available to provide support for a preacher working in some hard place to get the church established. No wonder the church at Thessalonica was and is such an example to others. They wanted to support gospel preaching and send out preachers to other parts of their state. Does the church of which you are a member have this vision?

Conclusion

Let’s learn from the example of the church at Thessalonica to improve our own service to the Lord. Perhaps the Lord will speak such commendable words about us on judgment day as Paul wrote about the church at Thessalonica.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 10 p. 2
April May 1, 1997

By Jim Gabbard

There is very tragic irony swirling around the recent cult suicides in San Diego. We are constantly reminded from many quarters that we have arrived at such a sophisticated and high level of evolution that we are beyond believing in the myths of ancient religions which beset our poor ignorant forefathers. Yet the further our high courts and our rulers and teachers lead us away from our religious base and the more we come to accept their high sounding proclamations and court rulings to the effect that there is no God, the weirder the beliefs of many people become. Who but people with terribly cluttered up emotional landscapes can believe that one can kill one’s body, then hitch a ride on a rocket, hidden behind a comet which is 122 million miles away from planet earth, in order for the soul away from our religious base and to ride on into heaven!

How long has it been high sounding proclamations and (1962) since the Engel vs. Vitale Supreme Court ruling to the effect that there is no God, the weirder the permitting prayer in public beliefs of many people become. schools was a violation of the First Amendment to the constitution. Yet most young people, knowing nothing of the content of the First Amendment, took that ruling to mean that God has no place in the lives of modem man.

It is the contention of many thinking people that it is the Supreme Court ruling and its enforcement, that is actually in violation of the First Amendment, which says: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

It may be that Congress has made no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion but the Supreme Court and many educational institutions, including public schools, most certainly have. But that is not the point of this essay.

A well respected professor of English, who is well known to me, taught at Western Kentucky University for years and constantly argued that the further the leaders of the people led them away from their religious base, the more dangerous it would become. That teacher was a prophet in this respect. Look at juvenile crime and juvenile criminals. Look at the increasing numbers of young people using dangerous drugs. I have no actual statistics right here before me, but I do read good newspapers on a daily basis; I subscribe to three national news magazines (two liberal, one conservative) all of which I read in a good measure of detail. I spend at least one hour early each morning on the “web” checking out the news. I also am alive, active and, I think, alert, and I see what is happening every day before our eyes. I overhear the filthy language of young people which leaves me limp.

I taught secondary school a few years in southern California in the early I 980s and was frequently grossly sickened by what I saw and heard. Young, beautiful girls from respectable families were using filthy language and smoking “pot.” Their mothers would not hear a word of it when I tried to tell them, but rather screamed shrill insults back at me telling me they knew their children much better than I did, only to come crying the blues when their little darlings turned up pregnant. I didn’t see anything like that anywhere when I was a secondary school student. I read and hear about and see “teen crime” and “teen criminals” every day. I didn’t see anything like that when I was a teen-ager back before the liberal surge. I could go on and on much longer in the same vein if it did not pain me so, but I think you now do get the point of this essay.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 10 p. 1
April May 1, 1997

By Lance Bailles

You’ve seen it on bumper stickers, business cards, and baseball hats. It’s that little fishy thing, that’s right, the one that sometimes has those funny looking letters on it. To many people, it has become as much a symbol of Christianity as the cross itself. But what does it mean? What are those funny letters? And, what difference does it make?

There’s a name for the little fishy thing: Ichthus (pronounced “ick-thoose”), which is a Greek word for “fish,” and is the one and same word spelled by those five funny looking letters that often appear on that symbol: IXOTE. Those five letters, in turn, each stand for five words that confess our Lord: “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior.”

We don’t know when all this got started, but it was al-ready well established both in the East and the West by the latter half of the second century. By that time, the fish was appearing on sarcophagi, rings, seals, and catacombs used by Christians, and the earliest direct evidence for “the fish” with its accompanying letters is from slightly before the year A.D. 180 in the eighth Sibylline Oracle (SibOr 8.217).

That explains the when, but not the why. This does: Some-where around the year A.D. 200 an influential writer named Quintus Tertullian wrote a short treatise on baptism for the benefit of those who were studying in preparation for it at his local church. In this, he makes the remarkable observation that “we as little fishes, in accordance with our IXOTE (ick-thoose: fish) Jesus Christ, are born in water” (On Bapt. 1). So, the little fishy thing is a confession of Christ, but it confesses Christ as a symbol of new birth in the water of baptism. In fact, the baptistery itself used to be called a Piscina (fish pond) by the Latin writers in those early days.

Here’s why this is worth knowing. Most of the people who decorate their T-shirts with that little fishy thing don’t believe that baptism in water is necessary for the remission of sins. Yet, they proudly display the very symbol that confesses the necessity of water in being born again. So, the next time you see a guy sporting that little fishy thing, walk up to him and ask him if he knows what it means. From there you can discuss baptism and start a Bible study with him if he is open to it.

Being a soul winner for Jesus takes a lot of nerve, and it pays to have a few tricks up your sleeve and a few good lead-ins. The little fishy thing is everywhere. If you use it as a tool to reach lost souls, it will help you get started with many folks whom you would otherwise not know how to approach.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 9 p. 7
April May 1, 1997

By Richie Thetford

Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Before we can live the Christian life we must first know how great this love is that Jesus described. Once we fully understand the love, devotion, and sacrifice that God’s Son has for us, then we can understand the true meaning of Christianity.

No greater love has ever been shown and no greater love will ever be shown than the love that Jesus showed to us, sinful men (Rom. 3:23). He died on the cross so that we can have forgiveness of sins through his blood. Jesus came to this earth without blemish to show us love and compassion, and die a sinless death. Why did he do it? So that you and I might have life eternal with him.

Hands Without Blemish

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only be-gotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Seeing that man was full of sin, God sent his only Son, a Son without blemish to fulfill all prophecy and redeem man from sin. God did this because he loved man (Rom. 5:8). When Jesus came to this earth he knew the wonderfulness of heaven, a place without tears, pain, or sadness. Jesus said that his kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36) and that he would prepare a place for us (John 14:1-3).

Jesus was sent to the earth by God to save man. While on earth, he was moved with compassion on the multitudes as sheep that had no shepherd (Matt 9:35-36). Jesus rejoices over each individual who will recognize him as being the Christ and as a result will seek repentance and follow him (Matt. 18:11-14).

Hands Full Of Love

While on earth Jesus’ hands were full of love as he taught how we should forgive. He taught that we should be willing to forgive our brother as often as he asks (Matt. 18:21-22), and said that when we do so our heavenly Father will also forgive us (Mark 11:25-26). Christ showed us the ultimate example of forgiveness while dying on the cross. In all his pain and suffering he was still able to say, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

His hands were full of love as he healed the sick, made the lame to walk, and gave sight to the blind (Matt. 4:24; 12:15; 14:14; 11:54). He further showed us his great love as he fed the hungry and raised Lazarus from the dead (Matt. 14:15-20; John 11:14-45).

Hands Scarred For Man

Though Jesus lived a sinless, compassionate, caring life, most men still hated him. We learn from the Scriptures that he was delivered to die because of envy (Matt. 27:17-18). A mock trial was given to God’s only Son (Matt. 27:27-31). Then Jesus’ hands were scarred for man as he was crucified, enduring the pain and agony, because he loved us (Matt. 27:46-50). Jesus died, his heart broken, as he bore the sin of all mankind. Yet today, many people willingly sin and trample under foot God’s Son after receiving the knowledge of the truth that Christ delivered to us. The Hebrew writer says, “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins…. Of how much sorer punishment, sup-pose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Heb. 10:26, 29).

After Jesus arose from the grave he later appeared be-fore his disciples. Initially, Thomas was not there (John 20:20, 24). When the other disciples told Thomas that they had seen the Lord, he said, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). Eight days later Thomas did see Jesus and was able to see and feel his hands and side, and believing said, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). Jesus told Thomas that he had seen and believed but, “blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29). John tells us that the things written were written so that all “might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (John 20:31). We need to have faith in Jesus Christ and believe in him even though we have not actually seen him. Do we have a devoted love for God’s Son? Do we have a love that will cause us to lay down our life for him as he did for us?

Conclusion

The Christian life is a life of service, duty, and devotion to our almighty God. He gave his only Son, a Son without blemish, to die for us and he did so that we might have eternal life, which we can obtain if we will obey him (Heb 5:9). Let us not be guilty of taking for granted the love of Jesus as he suffered pain and anguish on that cruel cross for you and me. May we always keep in remembrance the love that Jesus showed us (John 15:13), as we believe in, even though we have not seen, the scars on Jesus’ hands

The following story written by one of our sisters in Christ, Ellen Kyle, reflects the love of Christ as he died for you and me.

“What Happened to Your Hands?”

Ellen Kyle

“What happened to your hands?” the little girl asked of the man who was standing there.

“How did you get those scars? Did it hurt? I’m sorry, I don’t mean to stare.”

The kind man smiled, then He sat down and placed her on his knee.

“You ask me about the scars on my hands  love gave them to me.”

“You see, I once lived in a perfect home, a palace so very fine.

A beautiful place where no tears or pain or sadness would ever be mine.

But people are just like little lost sheep who don’t know the way to go,

They needed someone to give of himself, it’s the only way they could know.

So I left my home and came to earth to save man from his sin.

I loved them so much and I was the one who could help them the victory win.

I told them about forgiveness, showed love for all mankind.

I healed the sick, made the lame to walk and gave sight back to the blind.

I fed the hungry, ten lepers cleansed, I calmed the angry wave,

I brought a man named Lazarus, back out of his grave.

I lived a life that was sinless, I showed them it could be done,

If they would only trust and believe in me, God’s only Son.”

“I bet they were glad to see you,” she said. “I bet they were happy you came!”

“Some of them were,” he smiled, then said, “But most of them cursed my name.”

“They tried to change my words of love, to trap me in a lie.

Because of hatred, envy and hearts of stone, they wanted me to die.

They held a trial and accused me, not a word in defense I said,

Even those who called me friend, ran away filled with dread.

They beat me till blood ran down my back, placed a crown of thorns on my head.”

“Oh how badly that must have hurt,” the little girl quietly said.

“I stumbled as I carried my cross up the hill, my date with death, to meet.

I hung there in pain for hours with nails in my hands and feet.

All the sin of the world was upon me as I hung there on that day,

It was such an appalling sight my own father had to turn away.”

“Why did you let them do it?” she asked as a tear fell from her eye.

“Because I loved the lost so much that for them I was willing to die.”

I said, “Lord please forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

The little girl asked him, quite amazed, “You died for the evil ones too?”

“You were so kind and they were so cruel  I really don’t understand why.”

She shook her head  tried to blink back the tears  and then she started to cry.

“When they put those nails in your hands,” she asked, “was that the most painful part?”

“No” He said, “what hurt the most was the pain of my broken heart.”

When the man had finished speaking, she looked again at his hands,

As she saw Him now, through eyes full of love, she began to understand.

No greater love would ever be shown to a world filled with sinful man,

Than the love that the little girl saw that day, in the scars on Jesus’ hands.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 9 p. 8-9
April May 1, 1997