Last week we
looked at the phenomenon of corporate worship and appreciated all that Jesus did
so that we might have the chance to meet together like this in collective
praise and adoration of the Father by means of drawing near to God, holding
fast to His convictions, and spurring each other on in the assembly. We learned
that corporate worship is not a mundane ritual, but an integral part of our
mission to know Christ, grow in Christ, and show Christ in this world. Today,
as we continue our series and journey through the acronym C.R.O.S.S. we arrive
at another phenomenon that is often under-appreciated and misunderstood. This
phenomenon is indicated by the letter “R” which refers to “Relationships.”
Relationships have proven absolutely essential in my life.
In fact, the old adage, “it is not what you know; it is who you know” helped
give me several jobs, recruit workers for this church, and accomplish different
tasks and responsibilities in life. This same can be true of my spiritual
development and the general spiritual development of this church. When it comes
to the second part of our mission, growing in Christ, what we know AND who we
know are vitally important. Paul understood this when he wrote to the church in
Thessalonica, a small church in a brave new world (sound familiar). In 1 Thessalonians
5:8-11, Paul presents three elements of relationships that are important for us
to keep in mind as we work to accomplish the greatest mission ever given.
I. ELEMENT #1: The
Occasion for Relationship-5:8
The verses leading up to this passage address the coming
age, “the times and the epochs” (5:1). In these times, Paul predicts that the
Lord will come like a thief in the night, there will be destruction, and darkness
will sweep across the planet. However, those to whom this letter is addressed (the
church body in Thessalonica), need not worry, for they are called, “sons of
light,…” (1 Thess. 5:5). Therefore, Paul says “since we are children of the day…”
there are certain encouragements necessary for the ministry to go forward
during the difficult days to come. To be a person of the day means to be
illuminated with the life of Christ, who is “the light.”
John 14:6-“Then
Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who
follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."
Those who have the light of Christ are called to live in the
coming age (the age in which we are living right now) conspicuously different
from the world around them.
Sons and daughters of light are to live “soberly” in a world
that is out of control. This word means to be in complete control over one’s
thought processes and thus not in danger of irrational thinking.
Consider what people are like when they are inebriated. Often
when people are drunk they are inhibition free, willing to do embarrassing or
even dangerous stunts on a whim or a dare. Often this ends in disaster.
Stammering around, those who are drunk yield control of their mind to alcohol,
rendering them open to irrational and nonsensical thinking.
This is prohibited for those who are sons and daughters of
light. And before you redact this command to literal sobriety from alcohol,
consider the general principle to which this image is pointing. Christians are
not to yield control of their minds over to anyone or anything except the Holy
Spirit. In other words, alcohol is not the only thing Christians can get drunk
on or a buzz from. Success, possessions, image, money, sex, etc. The call of
Paul for the church in Thessalonica is to be sober in all of these areas. In a
world of stammering drunks, believers are to remain clear-headed and
steadfastly focused.
What causes this level of focus in a world that is like a
bar offering an assortment of spirits? Paul quickly changes metaphors to answer
this question, “having put on the breast-plate of faith and love, and as a
helmet, the hope of salvation…” (5:8). Standing on the threshold of the coming
age, complete with destruction and darkness, and drunkenness, Christians should
arm themselves for action with self-control by means of a breast-plate and
helmet.
The Roman breastplate referred to here would have covered a
soldier from his neck to his waist and protected his most vital organs. This is
what “faith and love” does for the believer’s spiritual lives. Faith and love
protect the believer from the coming onslaught of evil.
Consider the nature of these two terms for a moment. Both
faith and love are transitive, meaning they require an understood object as the
recipient for the action they imply. A disciple cannot exercise faith without
placing that faith in something or someone. Similarly, a disciple cannot love
without an understood person or object receiving and reciprocating that love. Already,
a relationship with God as the object of faith and love is being subtly
referenced by Paul with these words.
While the breastplate protects the vital organs, the helmet
protects the head, the seat of the mind and reason. In the believer’s case, protection
comes in the form of hope through salvation. The salvation of the disciple was
the source of hope for all in the early church and remains the most appropriate
source of hope for the believer today. The church at Thessalonica would have to
rely on the hope of their salvation when things would get rough, and so should
we.
Sobriety and hope provide an opportunity for relationship to
take place in the life of Jesus’ disciples. It is hard to have a functional
relationship with a drunk or someone who battles depression. Sobriety, faith,
love, and hope create an amazing opportunity for believers to have a
relationship with God and with other disciples. However, what makes this
possible in the first place?
II. ELEMENT #2: The
Allowance for Relationship-5:9-10
“For God has not destined us for wrath” (5:9a). The disciple
is allowed to enjoy relationship with God because God has not and will not
assign wrath to them. Why would He spill out His wrath on those that He has
saved? Why would He punish those who have apprehended the grace of Christ. The
wrath that is to come upon the world in the days that Paul predicts here will
pass over those who already belong to God.
This is not unlike what took place for the Hebrew slaves in
Egypt. In the same way God’s wrath passed over the doors of the Hebrew slaves,
His wrath passes over His children in the last days, rendering a relationship
with Him possible and welcome.
In the place of deserved wrath, God provides the ultimate
gift, “obtaining salvation” (1 Thess. 5:9). This is the antithesis of wrath
reserved for those who are in the faith. For Jesus’ disciples, the greatest
judgment is usurped by the greatest grace, punishment and penalty is
overwhelmed by love and welcome. God’s gift of salvation is the definition of supererogation.
(Take time to define supererogation).
This greatest of all gifts was given by means of the
greatest of all acts, the Passion of Jesus Christ, “through our Lord Jesus
Christ, who died for us…” (1 Thess. 5:9c-10). The cross is where light shined
in the darkness to bring the opportunity of faith to the faithless world, love
in the midst of hate, and hope in the growing despair.
Paul concludes this thought by giving the reason for the
salvific work of Christ in the first place—relationship, “so that whether we
are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him…”(1 Thess. 5:10b). If
salvation is word we assign to a relationship with God, Jesus and His cross is
its source. However, what does Paul mean by “whether we are awake or asleep, we
will live together with Him…”? A clue to the meaning of this is given in verse
6.
1 Thess. 5:6-“so
then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.”
Paul’s point here is that Christians are assured of life
together with God, whether they are spiritually watchful or not. The
relationship given to believers through Christ’s sacrifice is unconditional—there
are no strings attached. Does this then give the believer’s license to act
poorly? Absolutely not! (mh ginoita-to
adopt another Pauling word). Instead, the unconditional nature of this precious
gift should motivate disciples to holiness and appreciation as they make the
most of the relationship that has been made possible through Jesus.
III. ELEMENT #3: The
Command for Relationship-5:11
One way for the disciple to make the most of their
relationship with God is to capitalize of his or her relationships with others
in the body of Christ, “Therefore, encourage one another and build up one
another, just as you also are doing…”(5:11). The command here is to “be
actively consoling one another through various means, building each other up.”
It describes a vibrant community of like-minded people spurring each other on
as the world continues to propel itself toward destruction. This is something that
Paul wanted to continue to see in the church of Thessalonica and it is
something that he commends of them as well, “just as you also are doing.”
Evidence that this church was already excelling in this endeavor can be seen
earlier in Paul’s letter.
1 Thess. 4:9-10-“Now
as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you,
for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do
practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you,
brethren, to excel still more,…”
The church of Thessalonica made it their habit to be about
the business of building each other up and encouraging one another. This phenomenon
of mutual encouragement, through vibrant relationships within the body of
Christ, is built on the foundation of their collective relationship with God
through Jesus Christ. Paul says to this church, “keep doing what you’re doing
because of what Christ has done for you.”
So What?
This calling upon the church of Thessalonica is not unlike
the calling that has been placed upon us here in South Roanoke. As Jesus’
disciples, we are commanded to make the most of our relationship with God
through Jesus Christ by giving ourselves to meaningful relationship with our
brothers and sisters here in this local body. This is one way in which we will
grow in Christ (the second part of our mission as a church). But what is
Crystal Spring doing to help foster this kind of community? What are we doing
here to help you make the most of each other?
The answer is found in our more intimate group settings,
both in the Sunday morning hour at 10:00am and on Wednesday nights at 7:00pm.
These two groups meet not because we fell like we have to do something at those
times or because we want to be like other churches or for my own health. We
offer these opportunities for your benefit as times in which you can learn from
each other, encourage one another through prayer, and build each other up as we
all strive to live soberly in this world around us. Our commitment is to do the
best we can to make these groups assessable, approachable, and worth your time.
Are you making the most of what is being offered whenever you can? You are not
making the most of your relationship with God if you are not making the most of
your relationship with the body.
One way in which we accomplish our mission, (growing in
Christ), is by giving ourselves to one another in this way. Can’t make it on
Wednesday night or early Sunday morning? Start a group with a couple of others
and make it whenever and wherever you can. But whatever you do, don’t miss out
on all that God would have you gain through this phenomenon called relationship.
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