The Work of the Gospel

Temple Baptist Church - 6-21-2015

1 Thessalonians 1:5-2:2

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  The work of the gospel is to be a shared work with every believer involved.  1 Corinthians 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

 

Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

1.  We share the gospel with our children in the home.  Mom, you have a great responsibility along with dad.

 

2.  We share the gospel where we shop, where we work, where we vacation, and where we live.

 

3.  We share the gospel in the local church through preaching and teaching, from the pulpit and Sunday School rooms.

 

4.  We share the gospel around the world by either going or giving.  The work of the gospel goes on 24/7 around the world.

 

5.  We share the gospel, we water the seed sown, BUT it is God that gives the increase.

 

B.  There are several things that I want to look at concerning the work of the gospel that are found in these verses.

 

1.  The Power of the gospel is found in its great salvation.  The power to turn a sinner to Christ.  1:9-10  “ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God”  1 Corinthians 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.  (The power to convert.  This is not the power of change though it will bring about change but a turning to God.  A turning from ungodliness to righteousness based upon the finished work of Calvary.  A turning from the world and self to God.  )

 

1 Thessalonians 1:5  For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

 

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

 

2.  The Product of the gospel is found in these people.  The power to convert and change. 1:5-1:10  “And ye became” Vs 6.  2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  (True conversion ALWAYS brings about a true change.  They were converted, they were changed!  They became followers of God’s men; they became ensamples to those who knew them; they became involved in missions both at home and abroad; they became active in the service of the Lord; they became heavenly minded as they waited for the Lord’s appearing.  Though their outward flesh remained the same in sinfulness, their spiritual or inward man became new and that newness was reflected in the passing away of the old and the becoming new of all things.)

 

Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

Titus 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

 

1 Peter 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

 

3.  The Price of the gospel is found in what it costs to bring it to them. 2:1-2 Acts 16:12-40, 17:1-14  “suffered … shamefully entreated … much contention”  The Price of the gospel is found in its Persecution.  1 Thessalonians 2:15  Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:  (The price of the gospel’s coming to the Thessalonica was great as Paul and company suffered the shamefulness of beating in Acts 16.  They were run out of town and came to Thessalonica where there were once again facing the contention of a society that did not want the gospel nor did they want the disciples.  Through the millenniums, God’s men have been beaten, rejected, stoned, sawn asunder, imprisoned, etc. for simply preaching the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.  Even today, in many countries, they suffer great persecution and even death.  Here in American, we do not suffer as these suffer, but we are maligned, rejected, and have become the off scouring of society. Those who preach the new birth from the old Bible are no longer accepted by the world.)

 

In Acts 16, they were beaten and imprisoned.  In Acts 17, Paul was forced to flee for his life.

 

Matthew 23:37  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

 

Conclusion: 

 

a.  The “for” in chapter 2, verse 1 brings a conclusion to the previous verses.  As Paul and his fellow laborers paid a price to bring the gospel to Thessalonica, the people of Thessalonica will continue to pay a price to spread the gospel to others.  Is it worth the price? 

 

b.  Yes!  The value of one soul that comes to Christ is worth it all.  Satan hates the gospel, God’s men, and the souls of sinners but he cannot stop the gospel.