WORSHIP GOD WHO IS
REVEALED IN THE BIBLE
1. Searching the Scriptures
“Now when they had passed through Amphipolis
and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the
Jews. 2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them,
and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 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." 4 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.” Acts 17:1-4
Luke
regularly draws attention to women who joined the Christian movement. Jesus had women disciples [Luke 8:1-3]. Jesus came to be the Savior of all, both men
and women.
“But when they believed Philip as he
preached the things concerning the kingdom
of God
Certain
Jews opposed Paul preaching to Gentiles.
He was forced to flee to Berea
“These were more fair-minded than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched
the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore
many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as
well as men.” Acts 17:11-12
“Let’s think
for a moment about the historical situation. They are Diaspora Jews [1 Peter
1:1], doubtless Greek-speaking, etc. Paul shows up and begins teaching Christ.
To do so, he has to introduce them to this new (even radical) reading of the
Old Testament. He’s telling them something completely new about the meaning of
the Passover Lamb. He’s telling them that this Messiah is actually God in the
flesh, etc. He is introducing them into the whole Christian way of reading and
understanding the Scriptures (he is like Christ on the Road to Emmaus). So how
do they react? Well they can’t go “look up” what he’s said, because what he’s
said is an interpretation. So what do they do? They search throughout the
Scriptures, seeing if the “pattern” of teaching (as described by Irenaeus)
holds up. I’ll bet the fur was flying in their arguments. And the result? They
were “fair minded” and “many of them believed.”
Stephen Freeman
2. The
fullness of God.
“The
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the
Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”
2 Cor 13:14
Paul closes
his letter with a prayer and blessing. He invokes the three personalities of God
[Trinity], with the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (see 2 Cor 8:9) coming first.
This is because we are always relying on Christ's sacrificial love, which
reconciles us to God the Father (2 Cor 5:18-21) and
unites us through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit with all our
fellow believers. • The love of God provides for our needs and
graciously restores us to his family. • The fellowship of the Holy Spirit
means our fellowship with the Spirit, who joins Christians together into a
unity (Eph 4:3;
Phil 2:1).
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you
through His poverty might become rich.” 2
Cor 8:9
“Now all things are of God, who has
reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of
reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to
Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the
word of reconciliation.” 2 Cor 5:18-19
“Therefore if there is any
consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit,
if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the
same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Phil 2:1-2
“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into
one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been
made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Cor
12:13
“Then He said to them, "O foolish ones,
and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought
not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?"
And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all
the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Luke
24:25-27
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