0423. The Result of Paul's Message On the Resurrection

The Result of Paul’s Message On the Resurrection

"They turned * * to serve the Living and True God" (1Th_1:9).

What a joy it is to note the personal relationship that these saints at Thessalonica sustained to their Lord. To them He was a blessed and living reality. They served a Living Christ. A Christ Who became dead, but was alive again.

1. Paul’s message on the resurrection brought to the Thessalonians a fellowship that was most precious. They lived and they walked and they talked with the Living and True God. They knew that they had access to the Father through the ascended and seated Lord.

Their fellowship was with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. They could say that they had fellowship with Him, because they walked in the light, as He was in the light.

2. Paul’s message on the resurrection gave the Thessalonians a new incentive in their service. They felt that they served a Christ Who had been clothed with all authority and power. They served One Who not only had sent them forth, but Who led them forth. They knew the blessedness of the words–"Go * * and lo, I am with you."

To them Christ was not a silent partner Whose name was to be used in their service, merely to add dignity to their tasks; Christ was rather the real, living, ever-present One Who backed up every service with His personal presence and power.

To them Christ was the princely leader of their faith. They were led in the train of His triumphs; they were more than conquerors through Him. It is indeed blessed to serve a Living and True God, Who is walking in the midst of the camp, leading, advising and empowering in service.

3. Paul’s message on the resurrection gave these Thessalonians the assurance that in their service they were panoplied against their greatest enemy, the devil.

Jesus Christ had broken the chains of death; He had risen with the keys of death and of hades in His hand; He had ascended up through and above all of satan’s hosts, all principalities and powers; He was the victorious Christ.

To these saints, as they served, they knew that they need have no fear of satan’s wiles, for their Lord was victor over satan’s realm. They went with a will to their set task of turning men from satan unto God, from darkness unto light. They knew that the devil was going about "seeking whom he might devour," but they also knew that Christ lived and was ascended and seated, and so they abounded in the work of the Lord.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR