The Author and Perfecter
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
Many times in our walks with Jesus, we wonder what we need to do in order to grow? How can we become more loving? How can we become more blameless and holy? There are certainly moments when these questions are helpful, but only insofar as we remember an answer to a far more important question? Who is the one ultimately responsible for our growth? God is!
That God is the one who is ultimately responsible for our growth can be seen in Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians. Although they are experiencing persecution, struggling with a vulnerable faith, being tempted with sexual immorality and a lack of love, and other problems, Paul knows that it is ultimately God who will conform the Thessalonians into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
For the purpose of the sermon, we will focus on the two things that Paul prays for: (1) that God will make the Thessalonians grow in love and (2) that God will make them blameless in holiness.
(1) One of the remarkable ways that God has been moving in our Uptown community is by sending individuals who have broken pasts that have been marred by sin. None of us are inherently loving people. But it is because of what God has done in our lives that God has enabled us to grow in love as both individuals and as an Uptown community.
(2) Holiness (from hagiōsýnē) is one of the required characteristics that God looks for among his people. In the New Testament, the people of God are frequently called "the holy ones" (usually translated as "saints" from hágios). At first, this might sound intimidating for many of us who struggle with holiness. However, the New Testament also frequently mentions that it is God who is the one who makes us holy (usually translated as "to sanctify" from hagiázō).
The point is that in all areas of Christian growth, it is God who is the one who promises us to become more like Christ! As we saw earlier, not only is it by God's grace that our faith has been born (i.e., Jesus had to die and resurrect, and the Holy Spirit had to enable us to believe and submit), but it is also only by God's grace that we grow in this faith. When will this promise be fulfilled? Paul mentions that it will be fulfilled at the return of Christ (v. 13), which is elsewhere described as a wedding celebration (e.g., Revelation 21). The point is that the Father is so committed to glorifying his Son that it is guaranteed that the Spirit will beautify his bride (i.e., the church) for the ultimate wedding!
Questions:
1. Share about a moment where you experienced genuine growth in your relationship with Jesus Christ. What role did God play in that experience? Would you have been able to grow apart from the role that God played during that experience?
2. Reflect upon the following two truths from the sermon:
Not only is it by God's grace that our faith has been born (i.e., Jesus had to die and resurrect, and the Holy Spirit had to enable us to believe and submit), but it is also only by God's grace that we grow in this faith.
The Father is so committed to glorifying his Son that it is guaranteed that the Spirit will beautify his bride (i.e., the church) for the ultimate wedding!
What are some ways that we distort these truths? How can these truths be a helpful reminder for you during this season?
