Sovereign Grace Doctrines
Concerning 'THE GOSPEL' - JESUS CHRIST
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In 50 AD, Thessalonica was a city of 200,000 souls in Macedonia, modern- day northern Greece.
The conversion of some of these Thessalonians occurred during the second missionary journey of Paul the apostle. It is recorded by Luke the evangelist in the Acts of the Apostles 17:1-4: "Now when [Paul and Silas] had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.' And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas."
We here are primarily concerned with the conversion of these "devout Greeks." Being "Greeks," they were born and raised in idolatry. Being "devout Greeks," they became seekers of the truth.
When Paul the apostle later describes their conversion, he writes "you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God" (1 Thessalonians 1:9). From their example we learn:
1. Seekers of the truth will frequent the place where the truth is preached. The only such place in their city was "a synagogue of the Jews." It was here that "the true and living God," Jehovah, was worshipped. And it was here that the coming of His Messiah, "the Christ," was preached. By the grace of God, these seekers of the truth deserted the temples of their idols and began attending the services of Jehovah's synagogue.
2. Seekers of the truth will require proof of the truth. In the providence of God, Paul and Silas, two preachers of Jesus, visited Thessalonica. They were looking for seekers of Messiah. They therefore and according to their "custom" entered the synagogue, and Paul declared, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ." But this declaration alone would not be enough to satisfy seekers of the truth. They require proof!
i. Seekers of the truth must have Scriptural proof. They will not be swayed by mere denominational dogma, creedal confessions, or ecclesiastical traditions. They say, "'To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them!' (Isaiah 8:20). Book, chapter, and verse, please!"
"Then Paul ... for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures" -- the Old Testament.
ii. Seekers of the truth must have indisputable proof. These seekers evidently questioned the death of Jesus on a cross, knowing that the Scriptures declare that "he who is hanged [on a tree] is accursed of God" (Deuteronomy 21:23). And they evidently questioned the resurrection of Jesus, considering it a physical impossibility.
"Then Paul ... reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead." It was necessary for Jesus to suffer on a tree, because Messiah had to vicariously bear the curse of God for sinners and thereby obtain their forgiveness (e.g. Isaiah 53). And it was necessary for Jesus to be afterward resurrected, because Messiah had to be raised from His grave (e.g. Psalm 16:10) and exalted to the right hand of God (e.g. Psalm 110:1f).
3. Seekers of the truth will embrace the truth. "And some of them [the seekers of the truth] were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas."
Are you a seeker of the truth? If you are, you will frequent a church of the living God, where the truth is preached. And you will require proof of the truth from Scriptures alone. And you will therefrom be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ. Have you?
Your servant for Jesus' sake.
Address all questions to pastor
Daniel E. Parks (2 Corinthians 4:5) e-mail RedeemerBC@aol.com
Pastor, Redeemer Baptist Church
2801 Cleveland Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40206 / 502.899-9205
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