the acts of the apostles-第49章
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〃Ye are witnesses； and God also；〃 the apostle continued； 〃how holily and
justly and unblamably we behaved ourselves among you that believe： as ye
know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you； as a father
doth his children； that ye would walk worthy of God； who hath called you
unto His kingdom and glory。
〃For this cause also thank we God without ceasing； because； when ye receive
the word of God which ye heard of us； ye received it not as the word of men；
but as it is in truth； the word of God； which effectually worketh also in
you that believe。〃 〃What is 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。〃
In his first epistle to the Thessalonian believers； Paul endeavored to
instruct them regarding the true state of the dead。 He spoke of those who
die as being asleepin a state of unconsciousness： 〃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。 For if we believe
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that Jesus died and rose again； even so them also which sleep in Jesus will
God bring with Him。 。 。 。 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven
with a shout； with the voice of the Archangel； and with the trump of God：
and the dead in Christ shall rise first： then we which are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds； to meet the Lord in the
air： and so shall we ever be with the Lord。〃
The Thessalonians had eagerly grasped the idea that Christ was coming to
change the faithful who were alive； and to take them to Himself。 They had
carefully guarded the lives of their friends； lest they should die and lose
the blessing which they looked forward to receiving at the coming of their
Lord。 But one after another their loved ones had been taken from them； and
with anguish the Thessalonians had looked for the last time upon the faces
of their dead； hardly daring to hope to meet them in a future life。
As Paul's epistle was opened and read； great joy and consolation was brought
to the church by the words revealing the true state of the dead。 Paul showed
that those living when Christ should come would not go to meet their Lord in
advance of those who had fallen asleep in Jesus。 The voice of the Archangel
and the trump of God would reach the sleeping ones； and the dead in Christ
should rise first； before the touch of immortality should be given to the
living。 〃Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds； to meet the Lord in the air： and so shall we ever be
with the Lord。 Wherefore comfort one another with these words。〃
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The hope and joy that this assurance brought to the young church at
Thessalonica can scarcely be appreciated by us。 They believed and cherished
the letter sent to them by their father in the gospel； and their hearts went
out in love to him。 He had told them these things before； but at that time
their minds were striving to grasp doctrines that seemed new and strange；
and it is not surprising that the force of some points had not been vividly
impressed on their minds。 But they were hungering for truth； and Paul's
epistle gave them new hope and strength； and a firmer faith in； and a deeper
affection for； the One who through His death had brought life and
immortality to light。
Now they rejoiced in the knowledge that their believing friends would be
raised from the grave to live forever in the kingdom of God。 The darkness
that had enshrouded the resting place of the dead was dispelled。 A new
splendor crowned the Christian faith； and they saw a new glory in the life；
death； and resurrection of Christ。
〃Even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him；〃 Paul
wrote。 Many interpret this passage to mean that the sleeping ones will be
brought with Christ from heaven； but Paul meant that as Christ was raised
from the dead； so God will call the sleeping saints from their graves and
take them with Him to heaven。 Precious consolation！ glorious hope！ not only
to the church of Thessalonica； but to all Christians wherever they may be。
While laboring at Thessalonica； Paul had so fully covered the subject of the
signs of the times； showing what events would occur prior to the revelation
of the Son of man in
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the clouds of heaven； that he did not think it necessary to write at length
regarding this subject。 He； however； pointedly referred to his former
teachings。 〃Of the times and the seasons；〃 he said； 〃ye have no need that I
write unto you。 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so
cometh as a thief in the night。 For when they shall say； Peace and safety；
then sudden destruction cometh upon them。〃
There are in the world today many who close their eyes to the evidences that
Christ has given to warn men of His coming。 They seek to quiet all
apprehension； while at the same time the signs of the end are rapidly
fulfilling； and the world is hastening to the time when the Son of man shall
be revealed in the clouds of heaven。 Paul teaches that it is sinful to be
indifferent to the signs which are to precede the second coming of Christ。
Those guilty of this neglect he calls children of the night and of darkness。
He encourages the vigilant and watchful with these words： 〃But ye； brethren；
are not in darkness； that that day should overtake you as a thief。 Ye are
all the children of light； and the children of the day： we are not of the
night； nor of darkness。 Therefore let us not sleep； as do others； but let us
watch and be sober。〃
Especially important to the church in our time are the teachings of the
apostle upon this point。 To those living so near the great consummation； the
words of Paul should come with telling force： 〃Let us； who are of the day；
be sober； putting on the breastplate of faith and love； and for a helmet；
the hope of salvation。 For God hath not appointed
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us to wrath； but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ； who died for
us； that； whether we wake or sleep； we should live together with Him。〃
The watchful Christian is a working Christian； seeking zealously to do all
in his power for the advancement of the gospel。 As love for his Redeemer
increases； so also does love for his fellow men。 He has severe trials； as
had his Master； but he does not allow affliction to sour his temper or
destroy his peace of mind。 He knows that trial； if well borne； will refine
and purify him； and bring him into closer fellowship with Christ。 Those who
are partakers of Christ's sufferings will also be partakers of His
consolation and at last sharers of His glory。
〃We beseech you； brethren；〃 Paul continued in his letter to the
Thessalonians； 〃to know them which labor among you； and are over you in the
Lord； and admonish you； and to esteem them very highly in love for their
work's sake。 And be at peace among yourselves。〃
The Thessalonian believers were greatly annoyed by men coming among them
with fanatical ideas and doctrines。 Some were 〃disorderly； working not at
all； but 。 。 。 busy…bodies。〃 The church had been properly organized； and
officers had been appointed to act as ministers and deacons。 But there were
some； self…willed and impetuous； who refused to be subordinate to those who
held positions of authority in the church。 They claimed not only the right
of private judgment； but that of publicly urging their views upon the
church。 In view of this； Paul called the attention of the Thessalonians to
the respect and deference due to those who
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had been chosen to occupy positions of authority in the church。
In his anxiety that the believers at Thessalonica should walk in the fear of
God； the apostle pleaded with them to reveal practical godliness in the
daily life。 〃We beseech you； brethren；〃 he wrote； 〃and exhort you by the
Lord Jesus； that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to
please God； so ye would abound more and more。 For ye know what commandments
we gave you by the L
