THE. K I NG ’S BUS I NESS
September, 1942
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★ Ì. As a Believer (1:9,1Ó).
★ P AUL’S EPISTLES are saturated be called the Apostle of the Advent. Directly taught by the Hply Spirit,’. Paul brings us a full revelation of the various aspects of our Lord’s appear ing. His tWo letters to the Thessalo nians are particularly devoted to the church’s rapture and to earth condi tions thereafter. Taken together, these two remarkable Epistles cover the two stages of Christ’s return. The first Epistle'deals with and centers around our Lord’s coming for His church. In the second Epistle, we have character istic features of the tribulation period. A Fact Emphasized At the. end of each of the chapters In 1 Thessalonians, Paul refers to some aspect of the second advent. ■Chapter 1:9, 10 associates our salva tion and patience with the return of Christ: “For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us frdm the wrath to come.’’ Chapter 2:19, 20 connects service and its reward with the coming of the Lord Jesus: “For what js our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not' even ye in the presence of our ’"Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.’’ Chapter 3:12, 13 has conduct In view (love, Godward and manward, is prominent in this chapter): “And the Lord make< you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: to the end he may stab- lish your hearts unblamable in holi ness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” Chapter 4:13, 18 declares the second advent to be the spring of all our comfort: “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. . . . Wherefore comfort one an other with these words.” Chapter 5:23 outlines the character of the saint and reveals the sanctify In View
In the Beloved By THEO. K. PAYNE
Here. the believer is viewed as- a waiting one, and patience appears to be the quality he must exhibit, seeing Christ is at hand. There are three words used by Paul to i/idicate a full- orbed life. They are TURN: SERVE: WAIT. Some turn, but they dp not serve. Others serve, but never learn to wait. Salvation, occupation, and ex pectation go together. Going back to 1:3, we have an illuminating com mentary on- Paul’s description of those Thessalonians wh om he was thè means of winning for the Lord. He speaks of: Their, work of faith—turning to God from idols—Past. Their labor of love—serving the ■ living and true God—Present. Their patience of hope—waiting for His Son from heaven—Pros pective. Faith rests on the past, love works in the present, hope endures as seeing the future. The inclusion of “serving” proves that the advent does not cut the nerve of effort* but serves to strengthen one for all legitimate labor. One reason that the church today is flirting with the world-is because she has put out of her mind largely the expectation of God’s Son from heaven. She has activity in plenty, but the third part of her attitude is missing. It is said that Michael Angelo, by his prolonged and unremitting toil upon frescoed domes, • acquired an habitual upturn of countenance as he walked the streets. If, as professing Christians, our conversation is truly in heaven, our faces will be set hither ward. We will walk the dusty paths of life with an upward look. Our eyes will be upon the coming dawn. 2. As a Worker (2:19, 20). Here the believer is presented as the serving one, and joy resulting from faithful ministry is prominent.* One translation of these verses is this: “It is the thought of presenting you to Him that thrills me with joy, hope, and pride, the thought of wearing such a decoration before Him.” Paul is here declaring that at the judgment seat of Christ he would be more hon ored in beholding his converts than a king in receiving a crown, or a cham- [Continued on Page 351]
with the truth of the second coming of Christ. More than any other New| Testament writer, he can
"In the Beloved"—accepted am 1, Nothing in self on which to rely. Only His righteousness, praise to His name! Covers my past with its record of shame. "In. the Beloved"—0 wonder di vine! He should have died for a soul vile as mine. Lifting me up out of sin's miry clay. Firmly establishing me in His way. "In the Beloved"—I'm sweetly at rest,. Trusting my all at His tender behest. He takes my burden and lifts ev'ry care. Fills me with hope of His glory to ’share. "In the Beloved"—God's hid me away. What tho' I'm wounded and stripped in the fray? Nothing outside of the Father's sweet will Touches my life, so I trust— and am still. “In the Beloved"—I'm waiting to rise. Over earth's scenes and beyond clouded skies Into His presence, whose love shed abroad Melted my Ijeort, drew me near unto God. ing influence of Christ’s second ad vent: “And the very God of--peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit -and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the com ing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” A Relationship Affected by Christ’s Return booking more closely at these five chapters, we discover that Paul re minded the Thessalonians of a five- point relationship each of them was to preserve and practice in view of Christ’s return, •
By HERBERT LOCKYER of Christs Coming
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